Headshot of Yugo Iwamoto, east asian, short hair with white shirt, green tie and black jacket.

Yugo Iwamoto

HCI Researcher & PhD Student

日本語

About Yugo

Doctoral student in the Department of Information Sciences and Technology at George Mason University and a Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) researcher studying teens’ experiences with AI-mediated and personalized digital technologies. Working with Dr. Nora McDonald, I investigate how these technologies shape adolescents’ trust, identity, privacy, social relationships, autonomy, and agency, with the goal of supporting safer, more reflective, and more human-centered engagement with AI. My research includes both broader studies of adolescents’ interactions with emerging technologies and accessibility-focused work examining how interactive and AI-mediated systems can better support autistic and other neurodivergent young people in educational and social settings.

A complementary strand of my research focuses on accessibility and human-centered generative AI, particularly how generative systems can support creating and evaluating accessible descriptions of complex scientific figures. Across these projects, I use participatory design, iterative prototyping, qualitative inquiry, and mixed-methods research to develop evidence-based guidance for more responsible, inclusive, accessible, and trustworthy technologies.

My interdisciplinary professional background spans academic research, communications and marketing, web design, community engagement, and customer service. I bring experience in user studies, focus groups, accessibility research, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and the design and evaluation of interactive systems. My multilingual proficiency in English and Japanese, together with my international experience in education and public-facing roles, informs my approach to inclusive and culturally responsive research.

I am currently seeking new opportunities in the following areas:

I work at the intersection of technology, inclusion, and human experience, with the goal of developing systems that are safer, more accessible, and responsive to the needs of the people who use them.

View CV (PDF) Google Scholar

On Going Projects

Teens, AI, and Personalized Digital Technologies

This research, conducted with Dr. Nora McDonald at George Mason University, investigates how adolescents interact with AI-mediated and personalized digital technologies. We examine how these systems shape young people's trust, identities, social relationships, privacy, autonomy, and agency, with the goal of developing guidance for safer, more reflective, and human-centered engagement with AI.

Illustration representing adolescents interacting with AI and personalized digital technologies and socializing as group

Interactive and AI-Mediated Technologies for Autistic Adolescents

This accessibility-focused HCI research examines how interactive and AI-mediated technologies can support autistic adolescents in educational and social settings. The project explores opportunities for improving access, communication, participation, and independence while considering privacy, trust, autonomy, agency, and users' control over technology-mediated experiences.

Illustration representing accessible AI-mediated technology supporting an autistic adolescent in educational and social interactions

A11y: Improving Alternative Texts for Science Figures With Generative AI

This is the AWARE-AI NSF research, and I lead this project. My team is designing studies investigating the effectiveness of utilizing generative AI to generate better alternative texts for science articles. ASSETS WIP/Poster

image represent A11y. The word 'A11y' centered on a dark background

Publications & Presentations

Selected publications and presentations reflecting ongoing work in accessibility, inclusive design, and human-centered AI. Expand a year to see details.

Completed Projects

Bridge Communications: Kiosk Multimodal Communications Tool for d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Hearing

The capstone project where I designed a Kiosk Multimodal Communication Tool to investigate the usability and accessibility of multimodal inputs (speaking and typing) for d/DHH and hearing individuals. This work has been submitted to CHI 2026.

Diagram of a kiosk-style conversation system. A large monitor in the center displays chat bubbles and the word “Hello!” (with a small QR code shown on the screen). On both the left and right sides are larger QR codes labeled “QR code to join a chat!” At the bottom left, a person labeled “Speaking” talks into a phone with a microphone icon. At the bottom right, a person labeled “Typing” uses a phone with a chat/typing icon. The layout suggests users join the same chat via QR code and communicate through speaking or typing, with messages shown on the shared monitor.

RIT HCI Research Website

I revamped and updated the design and contents of the HCI research page for the School of Information (the iSchool).

Screenshot of the RIT HCI research page

The iSchool Tour

Video for prospective students and families to learn about the iSchool during the virtual open house.

INSPIRE

INSPIRE supports faculty with disabilities in research and teaching at RIT. Explore experiences at the Experience page.

Word 'Inspire' centered on a white background

Generative AI in K-12

Designing workshop resources for teachers in underfunded schools, using GenAI to broaden access.

AI-themed classroom illustration with students

The iSchool Graduation Video

Celebrating the class of 2022 with student stories recorded before and on commencement day.

The iSchool Recruitment Page

Single-page design created to recruit faculty, following RIT branding guidelines.

Screenshot of iSchool recruitment page with students typing on laptops

Caption Mask Promotion (ImagineRIT)

Recorded and edited a demo featuring a student project showcased at ImagineRIT.

Text-To-Speech Instruction for Disability Services

Guidance for adopting natural-voice TTS to reduce reliance on human readers as accommodation demand grew.

First page of the Text-to-Speech instruction document

ISTE-646 Class Project & Homework

Coursework in JS, PHP, React, SQL, and front-end fundamentals (Fall 2024).

Dark-themed IDE open on a MacBook in a modern office

Personal (Portfolio) Website Development

Developed and tutored several academic personal sites, including Dr. Narmala Shenoy and Professor Catherine Beaton.

Laptop displaying a code editor with a website project open

Marketing & Communications

Marketing and communications materials including graphics and presentations as marketing and communications professionals since 2021. I was a communications intern for Gates Chili Central School District and coordinator of communications for School of Information at RIT. Please view my portfolio.

Illustration of four people collaborating on marketing work—one on a laptop with a headset, two reviewing a tablet together, and one checking analytics—surrounded by abstract icons for messaging, branding, and goals, with large white space above for a heading.

Major Classes I Have Completed

Blog

Insights on accessibility, bilingual UX, and inclusive HCI design.