Tepito

Design for a socially innovative coffee store

Tepito is a coffee shop near my neighborhood, and I love spending time there—watching the sunset and chatting with friends. There’s a bookstore right next to it, so whenever Tepito closes, I can continue my evening there, getting lost in a good book.

The idea of drawing for Tepito started when my faculty introduced an article in my Design for Social Innovation class. The article shared the story behind the café and the innovator who started the business. It was such a unique story—something I had never considered before when visiting Tepito or any other coffee shop. Learning about its origins made the place even more special to me. Beyond the memories I had already created there, the café's story, its personality, and its impact on the community gave it a deeper meaning.

Dania Maxwell. Los Angeles Times, Aug. 16, 2023

https://www.latimes.com/delos/story/2023-08-16/with-tepito-coffee-richard-cabral-brings-east-la-to-pasadena

One of the founders, Cabral, was a former gang member who left his past behind and partnered with Homeboy to establish Tepito. With a passion for coffee and a commitment to creating an equitable work environment, he built a space where people could enjoy high-quality coffee imported from Mexico while also providing job and internship opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds—especially those seeking a fresh start.

As a story artist, I started thinking about how I could contribute to their mission in a meaningful way.

I did a live painting at Tepito, capturing the atmosphere and energy of the space.

Therefore, I experimented with this project by applying my skills in drawing, painting, and animation to highlight Tepito’s unique character. My goal was to create a storytelling piece that captures the essence of the café and its impact on the community.

I created character sketches inspired by the servers at Tepito, capturing their personalities and unique expressions.

I painted the background for an animated GIF, aiming to capture the beauty of a sunset at Tepito. The warm tones and shifting light reflect the cozy, inviting atmosphere of the café during that time of day, enhancing the storytelling and mood of the piece.

In the next step, I use animation to convey the careful and patient attitude of the servers at Tepito. Through subtle, deliberate movements, I aimed to highlight the dedication and warmth they bring to their work, making each interaction feel personal and meaningful.

For the final piece, I adjusted the frame size of the GIF to better suit social media, ensuring it displays more effectively and enhances the viewing experience.