As an avid reader, I always look for people to discuss books with. This need made me realize that reading is becoming more popular, partly due to social media. This inspired me to motivate students at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences to read more.

My initial design question was: “How can we motivate students to read more?” After conducting research, I found that many students want to read but struggle to stay motivated. Negative experiences in high school often make them associate reading with boredom. I realized that students read the most in elementary school, especially adventurous books like Geronimo Stilton, which use sensory aspects such as visualization and smell. So, I wondered why adults couldn’t have the same sensory experience with adult books. My revised design question became: “How can we use the senses to enhance the joy of reading and motivate students to keep reading?”

My goal was to stimulate intrinsic motivation. I wanted to improve the individual reading experience of students without compromising the aesthetic value of physical books. Currently, students read little due to a lack of perseverance. Research shows that students who read more achieve better academic results. My desired outcome is for students to become intrinsically motivated to finish their books.

For my target audience, students who struggle to finish their books or even start reading, this topic is essential. Reading not only promotes higher academic performance but also stimulates imagination. Therefore, increasing reading motivation among this group is crucial for their academic success and overall development.