About Icey Designs

It all started with the library. When Hafsah was sixteen, her love for books led her to the local library's blog. Their 'review a book, get a book' program was something to look forward to every month. But once a month wasn't enough. In September of 2010, she started IceyBooks, a blog dedicated to reviewing YA fiction. Her blog grew quickly, and her sister Asma, joined as a co-blogger some years later.

Blogging about books gave Hafsah an outlet for her first love: designing. She's been coding since the age of thirteen, and thanks to a father with a talent in interior designing, she now designs and codes functional works of art. What started as inexpensive makeovers for blogging friends soon became something more. She quickly found her niche in designing stunning websites for publishing professionals, from debut writers and startups to New York Times bestselling authors.

In Summer of 2015, Hafsah grabbed a pen and started doodling—there's just something magical about bringing words to life visually. It was supposed to be a creative outlet for her creative outlet of designing. Weeks later, colorful, hand-lettered journals were born.

Now a New York Times bestselling author herself, Hafsah continues to design websites, letter quotes, curate colors, and puts together new pieces from our home-based studio in Dallas, Texas. Her mom sews and trims stacks of paper, resulting in gorgeous journals and planners made just for you, while young assistants, Asma and Azraa, help keep things running.

We've since expanded to candles, enamel pins, pillow cases, literary tiles, and more. We pride ourselves in our inspirational goodies, knowing that at this very moment someone is parting the pages of an IceyDesigns journal and recording their thoughts.

And we wouldn't have it any other way.

Elsewhere

May 2014, Hafsah was a speaker at the BEA Bloggers Conference at the Javits Center, New York.
Brooklyn Magazine — about being a designer and diverse member in publishing
Publishers Weekly — cover trends, what works, and her favorite indie covers
Vampire Wire — an interview on her design process
Willing to See Less — another interview on her design process
Entertainment Weekly — see the exclusive cover reveal for Hafsah's debut, WE HUNT THE FLAME