Street Vendors and Public Space
Pueblo Studio partnered with the East LA Community Corporation to transform community stories into tangible design solutions for the MacArthur Park Metro Plaza. After the Los Angeles Police Department began prohibiting street vending in the area—citing concerns about pedestrian flow—Pueblo Studio worked directly with vendors to ensure their voices shaped the future of the space. Through community storytelling, artmaking workshops, and on-the-ground engagement, street vendors articulated a shared vision that both protected pedestrian safety and honored their livelihood as small business owners seeking visibility and access to customers.
Grounding these lived experiences in quantitative data, qualitative research, and planning precedents, Pueblo Studio developed three co-designed pathway and merchandising layouts. Each layout empowers vendors to reclaim their presence in the public realm while meeting pedestrian needs and complying with sidewalk design standards. This collaborative process demonstrates how storytelling can inform inclusive design—turning community narratives into pathways that uplift culture, commerce, and belonging.
Services Provided
Story-based Strategy
