Smitten Kitchen—motivation to not order takeout (at least for one night)

I'm going to take things in a slightly different direction for a moment. The web-based motivational experience that I'd like to discuss is neither formally game-oriented, nor formally learning-oriented, but I think it serves as an interesting example of how motivational design, specifically related to Keller's ARCS model, can be carried out in diverse and unexpected settings.

As an amateur chef, I like to occasionally check out a number of different food and cooking media, but one that I return to more often than others is the Smitten Kitchen blog site.

While hungrily perusing one day, I was immediately struck by the success with which the site unintentionally uses ARCS principles to achieve reader motivation towards cooking the recipes portrayed.

One doesn't need to look far to see Attention jumping off the screen (if only it could jump off the screen and into my mouth...). What would a cooking blog be without mouth-watering images? They serve no other purpose than gaining an instant physiological reaction as the brain and stomach silently exclaim in chorus, "must eat pasta now!" In regard to rich visuals, Relevance rides in close on the heels of Attention. What could be more relevant to the act of dispensing recipe information than vividly displaying the end result? For my money, the only experience more motivating than seeing the final dish in all its glory would be someone shoving a spoon full into your mouth. Added attention to Relevance can be found in the miniature narrative that accompanies each recipe post. The author describes interesting anecdotes regarding her own personal experience with tomato sauce, the 4 Michelin Star chef whose recipe inspired this one, and the characteristics of what makes this dish excellent. If any of these topics pique the reader's interest (and since those attracted to food blogs are generally foodies, it is likely that at least one of these topics will), Relevance is immediately achieved.

Moving onto the third rail of cooking media: Confidence. It is a hefty order to instill any average home cook that might stumble upon this blog that the dish he/she produces will resemble in appearance or flavor that which is presented on the site. This hurdle is generally tackled with some finesse but the Smitten Kitchen author due to several factors. First: the recipes chosen aren't so fail safe that one could microwave three ingredients and call it a day, but they are usually minimalist in terms of ingredients and fundamental skills required. This helps greatly in managing cognitive load, which will inherently instill confidence. Second: notice in the pasta image at right that the text explicitly states that the dish is so good because of its simplicity. The continual emphasis on simplicity will reinforce confidence that the task will not prove overwhelming when the moment of performance arrives.

Satisfaction is a component less easily nailed down in a context such as this, but due to the impressive success of the other three components, this point should prove relatively moot.

I myself was inspired to make this naked tomato sauce dish as a result of this beacon of motivational success. It was as delicious as ARCS motivated me to believe it would be.