Born in Ankara, Özlem Yalım graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Design from METU (Middle East Technical University) in 1995. Since 2001, she has been living and working in Istanbul.
Throughout her career, she has produced numerous works and projects across various design disciplines including spatial design, product design, corporate identity, and exhibition design—both within her own companies and corporate structures.
In 1995, she co-founded Kilit Taşı Architecture, where she signed off on numerous furniture and interior design projects until 2001. Afterward, she served as project director at Terminal Design and Addressistanbul, and later as product development, design, and brand director consecutively at Koleksiyon. During this time, she gained extensive experience in working with international brands, corporate communications, collaborations, and event management.
In 2009, she proposed the idea of a design biennial to IKSV, which was realized between 2010–2012 under her directorship. She stepped down as biennial director in 2013 and left IKSV in 2014, where she had been offering consultancy in personal and project-based areas.
In 2007, she appeared on television with the show NTV–Turk Mucit. She was listed among the 50 most creative people in Turkey by TurkishTime magazine in 2011 and 2012.
Most recently, between 2015 and 2025, she served as Strategic Brand Director at TEPTA Lighting, working with around 100 global brands. She led strategic positioning, corporate structuring, international brand communication, digitalization, communications, and sponsorship relations. She also designed a new competition for the company, managing both the competition process and the award ceremony.
In 2025, she founded Vanguardis, Strategy and Design, under which she offers consultancy services in brand strategy, corporate communication, design and product development, and marketing communication. She has served on juries of national and international competitions and is a member of the U.S.-based Design Management Institute.
Since 2017, her weekly columns on creative industries have been published in Cumhuriyet Pazar, T24, Gazete Pencere, and formerly Gazete Duvar. In addition to industry publications, she is a co-author of the books Yeni Paradigma (Optimist), Sinema ve Mimarlık, Edebiyat ve Mimarlık, and Çizginin Yolculuğu (all by Fol Kitap). She is a guest editor of Design Unlimited/Maestro. She curated the exhibition Day Light Night at Istanbul Modern in 2016 and edited its enriched-content catalogue. Her poetry books #özlemötesi and #yoz have been published.
Following her role as co-host of the radio show Rotatif on Açık Radyo, she currently produces and hosts the program Dünyayı Kurtaran Tasarım (Design That Saves the World). She has a daughter named Lal, who lives in Canada.