salem!



Founded: 2021
Locations: London, UK - Almaty, KZ
Services:
Spatial Solutions:
small-scale architecture, narrative design, architectural and interior interventions, temporary structures, set design
Visual Communication: art direction, graphic/digital/motion/product design, place-driven branding
Research Focus: emerging technologies, material systems, experimental making processes, AI-driven creative solutions



Founded by Alina Alimzhanova and Zhanna Ee, this multidisciplinary creative-services studio operates globally at the intersection of architecture and visual identity. With studios in London and Almaty, our Kazakhstani-rooted core team brings perspectives shaped in New York, London, Barcelona, and Berlin.

Every project begins with an open dialogue: architectural narratives are mapped, visual systems are sketched, and insights from both streams feed back into the research loop. By layering architectural thinking, visual identity, and AI-powered experimentation, we prototype, test, and refine ideas across multiple scales until form, function, and story align. The outcome is an environment and identity in which space, narrative, and graphics speak the same language—elevating experiences while staying firmly rooted in evidence and context.

We partner intentionally with architects, designers, artists, researchers, musicians, and animators to infuse each project with depth as well as visual impact. A broader network—including expert suppliers, fabricators, and consultants—streamlines delivery and ensures every solution is finely tuned to regional contexts.

Lev Tarikov
ALINA ALIMZHANOVA

(is a lead architect & researcher of oi)

A graduate of the Architectural Association and Central Saint Martins (ARB/RIBA Part 2), Alina’s diploma explored how food-shopping patterns shape supermarket design in Mumbai and how mobile architecture can serve communities affected by the Aral Sea’s desertification.

She has contributed to international projects with IT Engineering SA (Astana Expo 2017, Lugano) and Levelstudio (Almaty), bringing research-driven insight to complex spatial briefs.

<b>Zhanna Ee</b>
ZHANNA EE

(is a lead designer & researcher of oi)

Zhanna’s background spans branding, product design, and art direction across Kazakhstan, Barcelona, Treviso, Paris, and Moscow. She co-founded Cross Cultural Workshop 2022 (saddle research in Kazakhstan) and Make Mektep (participatory redesign of rural school toilets), affirming her belief in design as a tool for problem-solving.

Her collaborators include Crosby Studios, IKEA, Space10, Nike, Rizzoli, HTDS, Nikola-Lenivetz, and Almaty International Airport, among many others.

Lev Tarikov
LEV TARIKOV

(is a creative strategist & producer of oi)

Lev holds a master’s degree in Cultural Heritage Development, focusing on how generative AI can power new forms of cultural production.

As a creative producer, he has staged runway shows, co-curated art exhibitions, and led multimedia campaigns in New York, Berlin, and Almaty. His portfolio includes projects for the Eurasian Cultural Alliance (Almaty), Ethan Cohen Gallery (New York), B2B Fashion Studio (Berlin), and a range of fashion labels, museums, and festivals.



CONTACT      FOLLOW