Traditional design promotes abundant, inexpensive, and disposable ways to create that are not compatible with sustainability. The authors explore alternatives to this paradigm by comparing a virtual reality sketch method with a new approach inspired by the traditional Japanese concept Wabi-Sabi. An experiment limited users’ amount of virtual paint and removed users’ ability to erase, and while participants’ creative approaches and processes changed, they were satisfied with the results. Combining Wabi-Sabi with digital technologies provides a concrete opportunity to “go forward” by incorporating sustainable considerations in practice and in the development of tools for digital artists and creators.

In creativity using digital tools, traditional design guidelines promote abundant, inexpensive, disposable ways to create which are not compatible with sustainability concerns. We explore alternatives to this paradigm by comparing the main Virtual Reality sketch method with a new paradigm inspired by traditional Japanese concept named Wabi-Sabi. We observe that removing the possibility to erase and limiting the quantity of virtual paint are changing participants’ creative posture and process and bring them satisfaction. Crossing the Wabi-Sabi paradigm with digital technologies is a concrete opportunity to “go forward” incorporating sustainable values in practice and tools for digital artists and creators.