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My Work at CSIS
Kharle Wu
Since April 2026, I have been working as a Data Visualization Designer at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), where I create publication-ready data visualizations and infographics across multiple research programs.
My work involves translating complex research into clear, accurate, and visually compelling graphics for a policy-focused audience. I primarily work in Datawrapper, Flourish and Adobe Illustrator, with additional data processing and charting in Python and D3.js depending on the project.
My work has appeared in newsletters, commentaries, briefs, reports and some events. Below is a selection of my work.
All rights reserved to CSIS. Shown here for portfolio purposes.
This brief examines how territorial disputes in the South China Sea could disrupt one of the world's busiest trade corridors. I designed the full set of data visualizations to help translate the region's shipping and trade data into a clear visual narrative.
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This report analyzes China's growing use of agricultural import restrictions as a tool of economic coercion, presenting a framework to assess which countries and industries face the highest risk. I designed most of the data visualizations for this report, including trade flow trends, risk-exposure scatter plots, and industry comparison charts, helping translate a dense economic framework into an accessible visual story.
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This report examines the increasingly fragmented and unpredictable global terrorism landscape, from resurgent al Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates abroad to lone-actor threats. I designed the data visualizations accompanying the report.
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This commentary examines whether the G7 remains representative and effective as a global governance institution, ranking member and non-member countries across key policy priorities. I designed the accompanying charts and ranking tables, translating a large dataset into a clear comparative visual format.
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Working at CSIS has been a valuable chance to see how data visualization can shape the way complex policy research reaches a wider audience. Being trusted to independently conceptualize and execute work across such a range of topics, from maritime trade to global security, has pushed me to grow both as a designer and as a researcher in my own right.
For more of my work at CSIS, feel free to explore csis.org.