Bandido constantly explores how shadow & light influence materials and the spaces they inhabit. Based in Puebla, Mexico, the team led by Joel Rojas & Alejandro Campos, is impacting the global design community by showcasing traditional Mexican materials & inspirations.

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Joel Rojas & Alejandro Campos, Co-Founders & Business Partners

“We have so much to draw from here in Mexico – our culture, the aromas, the flavors in our food. As designers, we take inspiration from all of that, and I think that’s what’s resonating globally. It’s truly amazing.”

— Joel Rojas

If you were to introduce Bandido to a new audience, how would you describe your company?

Joel: Bandido is a lighting company specializing in decorative lighting. We work with a lot of natural materials like marbles, wood, glass, and stone. We're constantly exploring the relationship between light and materiality. We often work with light and shadows. From a design perspective, we find lighting fascinating because when you apply light to a material or object, it changes completely. Lighting also changes the mood of a space, and we aim to contribute to the soul of a space in a certain way.

Can you give us an overview of your two key locations: Puebla, where you create your products, and your showroom in Polanco, Mexico City?
Joel: We met in Puebla about 15 years ago while studying industrial design at the university. Neither of us are originally from Puebla – I was born in Torreón, Coahuila, and Alejandro in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca. We both currently live in Cholulah, MX (a city just West of Puebla). We established Bandido in Puebla, because it's a great city with a lot of industry and workshops that are open to experimentation with materials and prototypes. As we grew, we started getting a lot of interest from customers in Mexico City. That's why we decided to establish a showroom here in Polanco (Mexico City).
What do you specifically like about Polanco for your showroom?
Alejandro: Many of our clients have offices here in the neighborhood. Our initial idea was to have our showroom in a historical building downtown, with huge spaces. However, we realized that our clients wouldn't drive over there (downtown) because it's quite chaotic, despite its beauty.

Can you tell us a bit about the design community in Mexico? What makes it unique?

Joel: There's incredible creativity here in Mexico. As you mentioned, designers are making amazing things. The world is really starting to pay attention to Mexico. There's a lot of originality in the products being created [in Mexico], and I think it's igniting a certain curiosity from around the world. We have so much to draw from here in Mexico – our culture, the aromas, the flavors in our food. As designers, we take inspiration from all of that, and I think that's what's resonating globally. It's truly amazing.

What has inspired some of Bandido's work? You can discuss traditional influences or things outside the box.

Alejandro: It's a little bit of everything: nature, culture, colors, and everything that happens around our lives. We always try to transmit these influences into a product, knowing that the product will be in a space where other people will interact with it. So, every time we design something, we think about what's behind us. Our design team always follows a brief that we [Alenjandro & Joel] create, and we always try to explore a specific concept or new materials. It's important to note that 95% of Bandido's products are made here in Mexico [materials]. It's very important for us to work with local workshops and local materials to create a national product.

Joel: A great example is our Naga collection, which comes from the word “luciérnaga”, which means “firefly”. There's a place in Tlaxcala called Nanacamilpa, where, from June to August, during the rainy season, you can witness an incredible spectacle of fireflies. We took inspiration from how the fireflies express light and abstracted it into a lighting product, translating that relationship with fireflies into materials (Naga - Bandido). Also, our Templo collection is inspired by the Guachimontones - historical pre-Hispanic circular, cylindrical pyramids in Jalisco. We drew inspiration from the exploration of those forms.

Do you think being from different parts of the country with different perspectives influences your design?
Alejandro: Definitely. I grew up in a small city in the south of Mexico, and Joel grew up in central Mexico. Our perspectives on life were completely different, and we apply that in our designs now.
Joel: Mexico has many contrasts – you can see it in the north, south, and central parts of the country. Each culture, each group of people, is different: what they eat, how they speak, how they express themselves…
Alejandro: …even the colors, architecture, and shapes. Everything is so diverse.
Can you give us a high-level overview of the materials Bandido uses and the sourcing strategy?
Joel: In Puebla, we are very close to a small town named Tecali de Herrera, which means "house of stone." This area specializes in working with stone, marbles, onyx, alabaster, etc. The proximity of Puebla to Tecali – it's only about an hour away – allows us to check the quality of different materials and ensure quality control. Moving stone is very difficult, so having it close by is a key part of our strategy.
Can you share a bit about Bandido's rituals or your personal rituals that influence your design process?
Joel: I think you can unconsciously see our rituals here at the showroom. We aim to create a calm space where you can have a nice chat or feel a sense of serenity that allows you to flow into a creative state. This is accomplished through a sense of calm, the translucency of light, and the aromas you mildly perceive. We try to apply this to make our team comfortable, giving them space to connect with nature and the trees. It's essential for entering that creative state, without stress. That's the key.

You've had a very busy year. What have you learned?

Alejandro: Woah *chuckles*, we’ve learned a lot. Not only in the last year, but in the last nine years we’ve been building Bandido. Over time, we’ve understood that we wanted to create a company - involved in creating products that have a strong connection with our clients. Personally, I've learned a lot about working with a team, with clients, and about believing in our strength and our dream for Bandido. I've also learned to see light in a different way.

Joel: This last year has been about constant learning. In Milan [Milan Design Week 2025] we saw many trends, different materials, and other brands. Having that context allows you to focus on creating new things. Working with a team is also essential for a successful company. And over all this time at Bandido, we've learned so much about electricity, lighting fixtures, light bulbs – all the technical aspects. Running a company also requires learning about finance, marketing, administration, and leadership.

Alejandro: Yes, these are skills you don't necessarily learn at university as a design student. We've realized that everything we've created is thanks to the effort of our team of 25 people working together.

Can you share one of your favorite recipes, whether it's a simple snack, a drink, or a full meal?
Joel: I really like a good guacamole. My recipe includes smashing the avocado until it's almost a purée, then adding cucumber for a unique flavor, and the classic onion, tomato, and celery. I also love chicharrón de la Ramos [fried, seasoned pork rinds], so I add little pieces of this chicharrón for a crunchy texture with a smooth flavor. It's a delicious combination.
Alejandro: I would go for some mezcal cocktails. I like mixing passion fruit juice with Ancho Reyes [chili liqueur from Puebla]. You can mix it with a mezcal, a bit of salt, and orange juice or another juice. It's amazing because it's a bit sweet but at the same time spicy. It's truly unique.
If you were to create a new space – a bar, a restaurant, or a coffee shop – which would you choose, and what would be its unique elements?
Alejandro: I would design a bar. The lighting would be the absolutely essential part of the space.
Joel: I would also choose a bar. It would be a bar with very deep lighting, creating a very intimate atmosphere. And it would feature some very Mexican cocktails and perhaps some botanas [snacks] to have the perfect combination.
If you were planning your last meal, what is on the menu, who attends, and where is it?
Alejandro: I would say a vegetable soup my mom prepares. That typical Mexican dish made by your mom – that's the best meal I would ask for if it were my last day. I'd be at the home I grew up in Oaxaca, with my mother.
Joel: I'd like to have some tacos, either al pastor or asada. It would be with my wife, my family, and the whole Bandido team.