Quirkiness with Corvette builder?

Ok maybe I'm just a stupid noob but I can't figure out what happened here:

1. Started salvaging corvette components
2. Bought a landing gear and hab module but couldn't afford/find a cockpit yet
3. Started designing a corvette anyway, saved the half-finished design for later
4. Went back now that I salvage a cockpit, game says I have no saved designs and the parts I bought are not in my inventory or Corvette Workshop storage

Did I screw myself by trying to save an invalid design?