Comparing two ways of making communication: institutional communication in opposition to community communication through design in the sub-basin of Pance River in Cali, Colombia

Abstract

The sub-basin of the Pance River is a strategic ecosystem of Cali (Colombia) because of its good environmental conditions; moreover, it is also projected as the largest popular recreation center in the city. However, these same factors make it experience a socio-environmental conflict, since its 2,600 inhabitants are mainly dedicated to tourism and the area receives up to 70,000 people who negatively affect the sub-basin every weekend. Facing this situation, the academy, the community of Pance and some institutions, worked on the “Proyecto Pance” (Pance project) through three components: social, environmental and communicative. The communication was made in an alternative way by means of the social practice of the design, allowing the actors of Pance to be an active part of the communication of the project. The present text analyzes the generated communication practice, in perspective with the exercise of institutional communication that is traditionally carried out in Pance.