Digital Pathways: Prospective Analysis of ICTs’ Impact on Artisanal Cultural Practices’ Dissemination

The ethnic diversity of the Colombian Caribbean is reflected in its rich cultural manifestations, which are at risk due to digital divides in the artisanal sector. While some argue that technology threatens artisanal practices, others highlight the lack of knowledge transmission and documentation as the real threats. Public and community initiatives aim to preserve ancestral knowledge, opening opportunities for design and other disciplines to support traditional crafts. This study focuses on the Chimichagua community in Cesar, Colombia, analyzing cultural heritage promotion strategies to identify findings and methodologies that integrate social marketing, collaborative design, and heritage conservation. An ethnographic approach is used to understand community needs and motivations, enabling the development of an ICT-based strategy to promote material culture. The research includes a foresight process using the "Three Tomorrows of Postnormal Times" methodology, horizon scanning for future forces, and the "Pace Layering" framework to understand ecosystem changes over time. The study prioritizes four forces—Education, Demographics, Media & ICTs, and Geopolitics—to strengthen digital capacities and prevent the loss of artisanal vocation, proposing strategies to stimulate local development through culture and innovation.