Another Recipe App: A Design Case with Motive Disposition Theory

As an interdisciplinary field, HCI studies are often built upon findings from other disciplines, such as the prevalent application of self-determination theory in HCI. Besides self-determination theory, motive disposition theory (MDT) is another prominent motivation theory that addresses human needs. However, the application of MDT is barely seen in HCI studies. MDT emphasizes individual differences in motives, differentiates implicit and explicit motives, and takes fear motives into account. We demonstrate a design case where MDT is applied to the design of a recipe app in order to motivate user engagement and deliver positive experiences. We then discuss our reflections from designing with MDT and identify concerns that could be addressed in the future. We hope that through our design case, the possibility and potential benefits of utilizing MDT in HCI design could be seen, and more discussions and studies with MDT in HCI could be sparked.