Soonho Kwon

I am a Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and design researcher, currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Human-Centered Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology. I am a member of the ESC Lab and have Dr. Shaowen Bardzell as my advisor.​ 

My work juxtaposes technological advancements with deeply human experiences—such as death, care, empathy, and spirituality—to critically explore, envision, and evaluate the diverse ways technology entangles with our lives.

Additionally, I work closely with marginalized communities in seeking technical systems that better account for and cater to their realities. Past and current community partners include parents and family members of queer populations and displaced queer youths.  

I adopt empirical, qualitative, and critical approaches in conducting my research, closely aligning with the traditions of Feminist HCI, Queer HCI, Participatory Design, and Critical Computing.​ 

Below are some of the topics that I am currently working on or interested in:

• Online experiences of displaced queer youths 

• Online experiences of parents with queer children 

• Novel and engaging participatory design methods through vulnerability, care, and storytelling 

• AI use for transcendent contexts 

• Future of technology in the realm of death and spirituality

Before joining Georgia Tech, I earned a B.A. in Comparative Literature and Culture and a B.S. in Information and Interaction Design from Yonsei University, where I was advised by Dr. Younah Kang.