GAINESVILLE, FLA.- The University of Florida’s Harn Museum of Art released its digital member card app on January 16, 2015. The Harn Museum is among the first art museums in the country to issue membership cards digitally through a mobile application.

“Utilizing new technologies to provide engaging, art-centered experiences is a part of the Harn’s strategic plan,” says Harn Museum of Art Director, Rebecca Nagy. “Not only does the app provide a more efficient way to connect with our members, it also expands the value and relevance of Harn membership to new constituents.”

The Harn Digital Member Card App, produced by Echo Interaction Group of Orlando, Florida, features the user’s individual membership card, a general information page and a complete interactive list of museums in the North American Reciprocal Membership (NARM), Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums (ROAM) and College & University Art Museum Reciprocal (CUAM) networks through both free and donation requirements. Members can use the app when traveling to the 800 museums located in these networks. App users can locate museums nearest to their geographic location using GPS proximity and track museums visited via a checklist feature. The app is available for iOS and Android phones and can be downloaded for free from the App Store and the Google Play Store. University of Florida Harn interns were vital to the app’s development, identifying contact information and GPS locations for the reciprocal museum networks, as well as testing and providing feedback prior to its launch.

The Harn Museum of Art’s recently launched free membership program experienced a 300% increase in membership from 1,000 to 4,000 members in just eighteen months. This project provided the opportunity for the Harn to fulfill its strategic plan goal of Innovation through Technology. The Digital Member Card App enables the Harn to deliver museum access in an innovative way to its increasing membership base, which includes UF students, faculty, alumni and friends. 

Echo Interaction Group is an award-winning mobile application development firm founded in 2008.  It has an impeccable reputation for creating mobile applications for organizations varying from Fortune 500 companies to the federal government. Echo is a 100% certified minority-owned technology firm and was created by CEO Carlos Carbonell, an alumnus of the University of Florida. In January 2014 Carbonell received the Governor’s Business Ambassador Award for Echo’s commitment to creating jobs in Central Florida.

Echo is one of the largest mobile development companies in Florida. Its in-house team of developers and designers includes experts in native iOS and Android development.  The company’s portfolio contains more than 60 mobile apps for dozens of clients. Echo’s clients have been featured by Apple's editorial team and recognized by the CTIA wireless association for mobile innovation. The Harn Museum of Art is proud to partner with Echo Interaction Group in the development of this innovative project.