Urban Sandén

Web Developer and UX/UI Designer, Sweden

My job entails implementing user interfaces, sketching wireframes and flows, designing and writing code as well as contributing to different parts of the Curity Identity Server. Every day I collaborate and work together both with the marketing and development teams.

My background

I started my career doing graphic design and moved on to developing web and digital products. I’ve worked as a front-end developer at web agencies, a freelancer, and a consultant.

Before joining Curity, I was a part of a web consulting agency that I ran with two friends. We specialized in helping customers with strategy, product design, and web development, working with clients in e-commerce, retail, and startups. We also dedicated one day a week to make our own small products.

I’ve always been interested in programming, design, and developing user interfaces, so working at the intersection of design and technology is something I truly enjoy.

My Curity story

I joined Curity after a few years working as a consultant one or sometimes two days a week. I enjoy working in a product company full time and the challenges and rewards of building great solutions for users. With a clear vision and an inclusive culture, it’s a great place to work.

I like working in a company with a long-term clear goal compared to jumping in and out of projects as you often do as a consultant. But what I like most is the great skilled and open-minded team at Curity. It is easy to collaborate with everyone and we always support each other.

Work/Life

I’m pretty happy with the work-life balance. Remote-first feels natural nowadays, and it fits my lifestyle pretty well. Shifting from commuting to Stockholm at least once a week to full-time remote work during and after the pandemic has increased my productivity, and positively affected my time management and motivation.

My typical day

I usually do focused work early in the morning before standups and meetings. I work pretty regular working hours, but one or two days a week I start earlier. In the afternoon I do a break with daycare pickup, and then usually continue working later in the day.

• 7.30-9.00 - Focused work

• 9.00-10.00 - Standups with marketing and development teams

• 10.00 - 12.00 - Working on today’s tasks

• 12.00 - 13.00 - Lunch. I usually combine the lunch break with doing some short activity like a workout or a run, a woodworking project, or listening to music. It helps with my productivity in the afternoon.

• 13.00 - 16.00 - Working some more and planning for the next day

• 16.00 - Daycare pickup and break. After that I can continue with some more work, but not all days. It all depends on the tasks or if I started earlier that day.

In my free time

Apart from spending time with my family, I’m a music lover, collecting vinyl and absorbing all things music. I enjoy building small web apps and open-source tools, doing photography, and some occasional woodworking.