When you click New from the Select Your Candidate screen, it will bring you to the Create Candidate screen.
From here, you can change the name, set stats, and set the stance on the issues.
If you hit Ready your candidate will be saved. If you hit Back it will not be saved.
When you click the "Customize Figurehead" button, it brings you to the editor where you can change what your candidate looks like. You do not need to use the Save/Load buttons on this screen. Just like the previous screen, hitting Done will automatically save the appearance and hitting Back will cancel any changes to the appearance.
The Save/Load buttons are there so if you want to load a candidate configuration that you made in the past you can. So you don't have to recreate it in the editor. It makes it easier for you to make multiple versions of the same candidate that look the same, but could have different stats.
But if you just want to make a quick candidate, you don't need to use the Save/Load buttons. Just follow this sequence:
1. On the Candidate Selection screen, click the New button
2. Change the candidate name, party, home state, and gender
3. Click Customize Figurehead
4. Change your candidate's appearance to how you like it and click Done
5. Set your candidate's stats and stance on the issues.
6. Click Ready
That will create your very own custom candidate.
If you run into any trouble, feel free to ask.