Snippets: September 2026

Snippets is a monthly roundup of resources, news items, inspiration and fun for designers. Have a cool book, show, site, game, app, resource, etc. that you’d recommend to your designer friends? Send it to ed*******@*********ro.com.

Putting You on the Map 

OpenStreetMap is a free, editable map of the world built by a global community of mappers. The level of detail includes everything from major highways down to individual building footprints and walking paths. Best of all for designers, it is open data: You may use it for nearly any purpose, as long as you credit contributors. 

Don’t Bleed Out

If you live in the world of print, this bundle of more than a dozen scripts for Photoshop and Illustrator might be a lifesaver. From preflighting and resizing multiple canvases at once in Photoshop to handling multiple-up layouts and imposition in Illustrator, these free scripts will keep your printing workflow alive and CMY-Kicking.

Iconic Behavior

Spectrum is Adobe’s own design system for keeping a cohesive look and feel across their applications. Why should you care? Mostly because you may want to access the system’s open-source icons for your own designs. Think training materials where you need to illustrate which tool to use or wanting to add visual zing to a video with the, ahem, iconic Photoshop brush. Download your favorites in all their SVG glory from the Icons page.

A Jarring Experience 

IconJar acts as a centralized, easily searchable repository for your extensive icon collections, saving you from digging through chaotic folders. Designed specifically for macOS, the app lets you drag vector assets directly into your preferred design software. With robust tagging, custom organization options, and support for SVG, PNG, and icon fonts, it guarantees your visual assets are always exactly where you need them.

Make a Splash 

Ever wanted to swap InDesign’s generic startup screen for your company logo or a family photo? Mike Witherell’s tutorial at TrainingOnsite.com walks through customizing the Adobe InDesign splash screen, the image that greets you each time the application launches. By simply replacing a specific image file hidden deep within the application folder, you can inject a touch of personalized flair into your daily workflow (and impress colleagues with your wizardry).

Outsmart the Algorithm

Protecting your digital assets can seem like a constant uphill battle, but MeKey is taking steps to give you back some control over your creations and IP content. Using blockchain technology—let’s pretend we all understand how that works—this service provides protection over digital assets, designs, even ownership of your voice! The MeKey dashboard lets you share and manage those assets and set the rules for how they’re used or restricted.

TypeCast 

TurboScribe is an AI-powered transcription service that turns lengthy audio and video files into highly accurate text in seconds. Offering unlimited transcriptions and supporting more than 90 languages, it is an invaluable tool for designers conducting user research, recording client briefs, or subtitling video content. Simply upload your files, let the engine process the spoken word, and export formatted text as DOCX, PDF, TXT, or subtitles. The free tier grants three 30-minute transcripts each day, while unlimited transcription runs $10 a month when billed annually.