A good handoff lets another person understand what you have decided without guessing. Kicks exports communicate a visual concept and the information you enter. They are a starting point for footwear development, not a complete production tech pack.
Choose the right export for the job
| Option | Use it for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Save file | An editable .kicks project backup. | Reopen it with Open file. Keep a separate copy for each major revision. |
| Download PNG | A flat image of the active design view. | It is useful for review, but does not preserve the project structure. |
| Export Specs | A visual concept sheet using the active view and recorded design information. | Review the resulting image. Export the other views separately where needed. |
| Export as JSON (Specs tab) | Structured design information for a developer to inspect. | It is not a CAD model, cutting pattern or manufacturing instruction file. |
Complete the project information
Open the Specs tab and give the design a project name and a revision. Enter the proposed size range, closure and construction choices, then add production notes. These fields record your intentions; selecting a construction option does not establish that the pictured shoe can be made that way.
Separate confirmed decisions from questions. For example: “Navy side panel and cream toe are the intended color layout. Upper material, sole tooling, fit and construction to be proposed by the developer. Coral heel detail to appear on both sides.” That gives a supplier useful constraints without implying that the engineering is finished.
Check every file you send
Open each exported image at full size. Check that the shoe is visible, the notes are readable and the displayed view is the one named in the file. Long notes may need a separate document. Export the outside, inside, top and back as applicable, and name them consistently, such as runner-study-v1-lateral.png.
Include the editable project as a backup for your own use. Ask the recipient which formats they can work with before sending a large bundle. The receiver may prefer your images and a written brief to a Kicks project file.
What still needs technical development
A footwear developer and manufacturer need to resolve the last and fit, dimensioned patterns, size grading, material and component specifications, sole tooling, assembly method, tolerances, labeling and the required tests. Those decisions need appropriate technical work and physical samples. Kicks does not calculate them from an outline.
For an example of how a provider describes this distinction, Italian Shoe Factory lists pattern making, grading, last development, material sourcing and samples in its development FAQ. Each provider's process differs, so request its own requirements.
Ask for a defined next step
Send a brief explaining the intended use, style, size range, approximate order quantity and which decisions remain open. Ask whether the provider can develop that construction, what information it needs next, and what a sample quotation includes. Request separate figures for development, tooling, samples, production and shipping where applicable.
Before approving production: agree a written specification and inspect an appropriate physical sample. A convincing render cannot establish comfort, fit, durability or production quality.