About

A very abbreviated version of who I am and what I do…

I moved to Chicago from my home state of Michigan to attend the University of Chicago after falling in love with the neo-Gothic campus architecture. Graduating with a degree in Gender Studies (thesis topic: sexual representation in comic art), I did my time waiting tables and packing boxes, and then gravitated to graphic and web design work, a natural fit for a creative type with a technical streak.

I worked for a small start-up web company for several years before taking a position as the web design manager at Loyola University Chicago, where I redesigned their home page and numerous other websites. This higher education web experience led to my next (and current) position of senior site developer at the University of Chicago, where I’ve had the opportunity to work on many engaging projects including the college admissions site, arts site, career planning site, and graduate admissions site.

I am interested in using design to solve problems, whether the problem is a chemically dependent lawn or a website that (ab)uses Comic Sans. My fascination with landscapes and gardening complements my web work; working with organic plant material in the physical world of the garden is the perfect foil for long stretches of time spent at a computer designing for a flat screen.

When I’m not at a computer or in the garden, I enjoy reading (graphic novels, comics, books, minds), playing soccer, spending time with rabbits, and photographing sometimes beautiful, sometimes silly things. I am passionate about plants, animal welfare, sustainable agriculture, progressive politics and sports. For a quick snapshot of things I care about, check out my links page.

Questions? Comments? Have a plant division to share? Email

Dena van der Wal

Yes, this is me. No, I will not look at the camera.
photo: Poonam Thaker

Malcolm, Tula, Clooney

Malcolm, Tula & Clooney as Bunzilla!
photo: Toni Greetis

Download PDFs: Portfolio | Résumé

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