So, you're ready to bring an idea to life but wondering what you need to have handy. Let's get right to it. The short answer is simple: the only thing you absolutely need to start a project on Genpire is a description of your product.
That's it. Everything else is optional.
You can start with just a sentence or two, and our AI will get to work. But, of course, the more context you give it, the more dialed-in your final tech pack will be. Think of it as giving directions—a street name is good, but a full address with landmarks gets you there faster and more accurately.
Describing Your Idea in Words
When you kick off a new project from your Creator Dashboard, you’ll land on the creation screen. The first tab, "Describe Your Product," is where you can lay the foundation using just text. It’s perfect if your idea is still mostly in your head.
Here, you'll find a few fields to help the AI really get what you're going for. You'll start with the product idea or name and a more detailed description. This is your spot to really paint a picture—talk about the fit, the function, the feeling you want it to evoke. Next, you'll pick a category and its intended use, which helps narrow the focus. Adding a few keywords can help zero in on the style or market you're targeting, and of course, you can specify colors. There's also a nifty Brand DNA toggle; if you've set up your brand style, flipping this on tells the AI to incorporate your signature look and feel automatically.
Adding Visuals and Assets
What if you're more of a visual person? Just hop over to the "Upload Your Designs" tab. This space is built for any and all visual inspiration you've got.
You don't need to be a professional designer with polished CAD files. Far from it! You can upload reference images you've saved, a PDF of a presentation, or even a link to a product you admire. Got a rough sketch you drew on a notepad? Perfect, upload a photo of it. This tab is also where you can pull in items from your asset library—things like your brand's logo, specific print designs, or samples of fabrics and other materials you plan to use.
The key takeaway here is that you can use either words or visuals to get started. A detailed description alone can work wonders. A collection of images with no description can also get you a fantastic starting point. But the real magic happens when you use them together.
The Sweet Spot: Mixing Words and Visuals
Combining a clear description with some visual aids gives the AI the richest possible context. The words tell it what to build, and the visuals show it how it should look and feel. This combination is, hands down, the fastest way to a factory-ready tech pack that truly captures your vision.
To put it simply, here’s how different inputs help shape the final output:
| Input | What it adds |
|---|---|
| Product Description | The core concept, functionality, and key features. |
| Reference Images | Visual style, mood, and specific aesthetic details. |
| A Sketch | The basic form, silhouette, and placement of key elements. |
| Materials/Fabrics | Texture, performance specs, and how the product should feel. |
| Logo/Prints | Branding elements and any surface designs. |
| Keywords | Helps define the target market and style genre (e.g., "gorpcore," "minimalist"). |
Ultimately, don't feel like you need to have every single detail figured out before you press "start." The best approach is often to begin with what you have—even if it's just a simple idea—and refine from there. The type of product also changes things a bit; a jewelry project might lean heavily on reference images and material choices, while an apparel project might focus more on getting the fit and color just right. Just start somewhere, and let the platform help you fill in the blanks.
Related questions
Do I need a professional sketch or CAD file?
Nope, not at all. A simple hand-drawn sketch is more than enough to give the AI a sense of your product's shape and layout. In fact, you don't even need a sketch—a detailed written description can get the job done all on its own. Genpire is designed to handle the technical drafting for you.
What if I don't know all the details yet?
That's perfectly fine and actually pretty common. Just start with the core idea you have right now. You can use the "Generate Questions" helper on the creation screen to get prompts that will help you flesh out the specifics. Plus, you can always revise and add more detail to your tech pack later on.
How much does the Brand DNA toggle affect the outcome?
It's a huge time-saver for ensuring consistency. When you toggle it on, Genpire automatically applies your brand's pre-set style guide—things like preferred fonts, logo placements, specific color palettes, or even standard construction details. It saves you from having to manually input those brand-specific details for every single project.