Tijuana native designer Alita Escobedo has illuminated a path onto the world stage, earning a coveted spot among the planet’s top creative talents. Escobedo was selected for the global “40 Under 40 – Class of 2025” award, ranking 8th worldwide in one of the lighting design industry’s most distinguished honors.
Now in its tenth year, the international award recognizes 40 designers under 40 whose work and innovation are shaping the future of architectural, theatrical, and artistic lighting.
The selection process is notoriously rigorous, with candidates this year hailing from 33 countries.
Alita’s Career & Projects
For Alita Escobedo, who leads the lighting division at Eléctrica del Centro, IPEC Industrial, and Media Tensión, the award is a validation of her career philosophy. She highlighted that the selection criteria went beyond aesthetics, focusing equally on a project’s technical execution and its broader conceptual and societal impact.
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“This recognition is based on professional trajectory and the impact of the projects, both for their technical quality and their conceptual and social contribution. To be chosen in the top ten is a great honor and an enormous responsibility,” she said.
The international jury evaluated a diverse portfolio of her projects, which ranged from high-profile collaborations such as productions with Teatro UNAM and Mexico’s National Theatre Company to impactful local works.
Recognized Projects
Among the reviewed designs were a lighting installation at the Dreams by Hyatt hotel in Punta Mita, the atmospheric lighting for Tijuana’s Malbouche bar on Avenida Revolución, and her personal “Light Up” initiative. This public space project transforms urban environments by blending light, performance, and sound.
“My work comes from a balance between the electrical trade and the performing arts,” she explained. “I believe deeply that light is a vital element that influences how we inhabit, work, and relate to spaces.”
The formal award ceremony will be held on March 9 in Frankfurt, Germany, during one of the world’s premier lighting trade fairs, which will also celebrate the decade-long history of the award organized by Light Collective, Filix, and Selux.
Lastly, Escobedo says the honor fuels her commitment to continue advocating for Tijuana through new projects that fuse art, technology, and illumination. Her goals include solidifying a new creative hub called “Corriente Alterna,” dedicated to exploration and dialogue about light, and further growing Eléctrica del Centro as a leading design studio and supplier.
