427 - Can Uludag

Can Uludag is an Android Software Engineer at Backbase in Amsterdam.

In addition to software development, he has a passion for photography, specifically street photography. Currently, he is experimenting with shooting on analog film.

Twitter (X) → x.com/canuludag

Can's Workspace Tour

Workspace Items and Tools

• Macbook Pro 16-inch for work and M2 Macbook Air for personal use
• LG Ultrafine 5K display
• Apple Magic Keyboard
• Apple Magic Mouse
• iPad Mini 6 with Apple Pencil for note taking and content consumption
• Fully Jarvis bamboo sit and stand desk
• Herman Miller SAYL chair
• Xiaomi Mi desk lamp
• Pen and paper. I still love taking analogue notes. I love MUJI stationery products a lot. The MUJI gel pen is my favourite.
• My digital photography camera is the Fuji XE4. I love the form factor and use it for street photography. Recently, I also received a point-and-shoot analog Leica Z2X camera as a gift from my wife, which I enjoy using. Film photography is much more fun than digital.

What is the most recent item that you've added to your workspace?

The Herman Miller SAYL chair. I appreciate its design and comfort. While I find other Herman Miller models a bit too formal for a home environment, this one is just right.

How do you spark creativity?

I love reading personal blog posts.

If I find something interesting, I pin it on Instagram.

I follow inspiring people on X.

I enjoy listening to podcasts.

A simple pen and paper can spark creativity effectively. I enjoy sketching and scribbling to generate new ideas and create mind maps. I also enjoy putting my thoughts on paper to make them more concrete.

What does your typical day look like?

Currently, I work primarily from home in a hybrid mode. My day begins early with family duties, including taking my son to daycare by bicycle. Afterward, my wife and I, who also work from home, enjoy coffee at our home coffee corner. If it’s not rainy outside(rare in the Netherlands), we often take a short walk and discuss our lifelong goals. My typical work hours are from 9 to 5, with most of the day dedicated to development tasks and team meetings. I'm fortunate to have diverse and friendly colleagues, from whom I learn something new daily. After work, I pick up my son from daycare and spend time playing with him until bedtime. In the evenings, I usually find time for my personal projects, reading books on my reading list, and engaging in some photography.