Wabi-Sabi in Virtual Reality Sketching: Toward a Digital Creator’s Posture Change

Abstract

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.