Smithsonian Hi

hi.si.edu

An award-winning mobile guide for the Smithsonian’s national museums. The platform uses browser-based image recognition — no app required — to connect visitors directly with artists and curators. It launched at the Hirshhorn Museum and has since expanded to multiple Smithsonian sites.

Outcomes

Web-based realtime image recognition, the first for a museum
Expanded for use at three separate museums across the Smithsonian network
Image recognition at the edge, with no app download
W3 Award winner

Engagement

Mobile-first web app with nothing to download
Realtime image recognition, the first of its kind
Gallery guides and wayfinding
Visitor experience strategy
Integrated design and engineering

Hi is a mobile museum guide that uses image recognition to scan objects and deliver multimedia content, all in the browser. Unlike traditional museum apps, there is nothing to download or install. Visitors simply visit hi.si.edu. Then they wave their phone past artworks in the museum to see and hear directly from the artists.

Hi was built for use at the Hirshhorn Museum, a contemporary art museum, but has since expanded to other Smithsonian sites including the National Museum of African Art and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Hi is a mobile museum guide that uses image recognition to scan objects and deliver multimedia content, all in the browser....

We partnered with the Hirshhorn, Antenna International, and Captain & the Fox. The product is the result of many rounds of user testing at the museum, and a development process that was experience-led while also pushing the boundaries of what’s technically possible on the mobile web.

We also developed a flexible, Drupal-based authoring system and powerful analytics for Hirshhorn staff to continuously improve and expand the content. The mobile website is compatible with most Android smartphones, and with iOS 11 and higher. For older devices, native apps are available which provide the same experience.

Mashable says the Hirshhorn Eye is the rare museum app that’s worth the trouble. Fast Company calls it state of the art and easy enough for everyone to use.

Our role

Strategy

Visitor experience
Analytics
Product strategy
User experience strategy

Design

Visual and interaction design
UX design and user journeys

Build

Front-end code
Back-end code
Built in Drupal
Integrated with Smithsonian’s collections management system
Custom image recognition integration