Hey, I'm Özkan
“A frontend developer who's a bit too curious for their own good”
While my main playground is frontend, the entire universe of software and technology never fails to amaze me.
If I use a basketball analogy: my pivot foot is firmly planted in frontend, but I like to move my other foot across different areas of software. Being a Swiss Army knife is both a necessity and a joy for me.
From debugging UI quirks to pondering whether Asimov's Foundation is actually a blueprint for life, I enjoy chasing the “whys” behind things.
I'm fascinated by sci-fi (Foundation, Dune), detective stories (and no, Sherlock is not Sherlock Holmes), and dystopian fiction (still deciding on my favorites). In the past, I lifted heavy things (powerlifting) and threw a few kicks (Muay Thai), which taught me both discipline and how to not take myself too seriously.
I believe in lifelong learning. Learning is like living — we learn as long as we live, and we live as long as we learn.
I love storytelling, etymological rabbit holes, and hybrid approaches to ideas and solutions. When faced with a problem, I prefer stepping back for a wider perspective rather than diving straight in, always trying to find connections between seemingly unrelated topics.
In general, I'm cheerful, socially easygoing, and often find myself in natural leadership roles — mostly because I enjoy helping others see the bigger picture, sometimes with a touch of humor.
Human-centered design
“Empathy-driven interfaces that feel like magic”
How interfaces shape perception and experience.
I believe great design starts with understanding human psychology and behavior. Every pixel placement, every micro-interaction, and every user journey should feel intuitive and purposeful. Design isn't just about making things look good—it's about creating seamless experiences that users don't even have to think about.
AI and machine learning
“Augmenting human intelligence, not replacing it”
Not just as buzzwords, but as tools to expand human capabilities.
AI fascinates me not because it might replace humans, but because it can amplify our creativity and problem-solving abilities. I'm particularly interested in how AI can democratize complex tasks—making advanced capabilities accessible to everyone, not just experts.
Data visualization
“Turning data into compelling narratives”
Making complex ideas more understandable through visuals.
There's something magical about transforming rows of numbers into stories that anyone can understand. Good data visualization is like translation—it takes complex information and makes it speak in a universal language that connects with people emotionally and intellectually.
Web performance and accessibility
“Building for everyone, optimizing for all”
Speed and inclusivity always matter.
Performance isn't just a technical metric—it's about respect for users' time and devices. Accessibility isn't a checkbox—it's about building a web that works for everyone, regardless of their abilities or circumstances. These aren't nice-to-haves; they're fundamental responsibilities.
Creative coding and generative art
“Art born from algorithms and imagination”
Where logic meets aesthetics.
Code as a creative medium is endlessly fascinating. There's something beautiful about using algorithms to create art, about finding patterns in randomness, and about expressing creativity through mathematical relationships. It's like painting with logic.
Etymology and language models
“Decoding the DNA of human expression”
Not from a developer's perspective but as someone who sees language as an essential tool for communication — if I understand how they work, I can use them better.
Words have histories, and understanding where they come from helps me communicate more precisely. Language models are fascinating because they reveal patterns in how we think and express ideas. It's not about the tech—it's about understanding the fundamental building blocks of human communication.
Digital privacy and ethical tech
“Technology as a force for human dignity”
So technology empowers instead of exploits.
Technology should enhance human agency, not diminish it. I believe in building systems that respect user autonomy, protect personal data, and create value without extracting it from users' privacy. Ethical tech isn't just about following rules—it's about asking the right questions.
Open-source contributions
“Building the future together, one commit at a time”
Learning and sharing with the community.
Open source is humanity's greatest collaborative achievement in software. It's not just about free code—it's about collective problem-solving, shared knowledge, and building tools that outlast any individual contributor. Every contribution, no matter how small, moves the whole ecosystem forward.
Systems thinking
“Seeing the forest, the trees, and the ecosystem”
Finding links between unrelated areas to solve problems holistically.
The most interesting solutions often come from connecting ideas across different domains. I love stepping back to see the bigger picture, understanding how different parts of a system influence each other, and finding unexpected connections that lead to breakthrough insights.