Brilliance is Our Standard
Get to know Spectrum Designs, a place where talent shines.
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Our employees are what make everything possible and worth doing.
Positive workplace practices power our employee's success.
We prioritize safety, well-being, and a lighter environmental footprint.
We’re always evolving to create better products and an even better workplace.
Autism organisations across Long Island were ordering custom shirts for their events. Inspiration hit us: Why couldn’t people on the autism spectrum be the ones making them?
Spectrum Designs was founded in 2011 by Patrick Bardsley, Stella Spanakos, and Nicole Sugrue with just two employees, a single printing machine, and a backyard barn. The operation was small, but the vision was expansive.
Spectrum Designs quickly exceeded expectations. Annual sales surpassed $250,000, and the team grew to meet the demand.
What started with two employees expanded to ten, prompting a move into a 1,500-square-foot space in the Community Chest building in Port Washington. With more room to grow, Spectrum expanded beyond screen printing into embroidery and additional services.
Spectrum upgraded its screen printing operation with an automatic press, boosting productivity by over 500%. This leap in efficiency allowed Spectrum to take on significantly more orders and create even more jobs. At the same time, Spectrum launched on-site training opportunities, giving individuals hands-on workplace experience and building a strong pipeline for future employees.
After a successful capital campaign, Spectrum Designs moved into its flagship location at 366 Main Street in Port Washington, right along the waterfront.
The new 8,000-square-foot facility tripled production capacity and allowed the team to grow to 32 employees, creating even more career opportunities. Annual sales surpassed $2.5 million, and Spectrum began earning national recognition, working with major clients such as Uber, Google, and Microsoft.
What began in a barn was now a thriving custom branding and merchandise company. The Spectrum story was so inspiring that it was featured in a full-length documentary.
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In early 2020, after a successful capital campaign spearheaded by a dedicated group of families, Spectrum Designs opened its second location in Pleasantville, Westchester County: an 8,000-square-foot production facility designed to expand employment opportunities into a new community.
Then the pandemic hit. While the world came to a halt, Spectrum pivoted. The team began producing custom PPE, working closely with suppliers to keep costs low and ensure access to PPE for those who had nowhere else to turn. In a moment of global uncertainty, Spectrum found a way to support both its workforce and the communities that had supported them for years.
Spectrum Designs entered its most successful chapter yet, taking its mission to a national—and global—stage.
A social media video highlighting Spectrum’s mission went viral, amassing more than 28 million views and introducing audiences around the world to the power of inclusive employment. The momentum earned Spectrum a spot on The Kelly Clarkson Show, bringing unprecedented visibility to the organization.
Spectrum also launched its licensing model and secured a partnership to create GCE Designs in Florida, expanding its direct impact even further and creating new job opportunities for people with disabilities.
Reach out to learn more about our mission, our people, and how to connect with a community where every mind matters.
