Design is a process. It starts with a problem that needs to be solved visually. These problems can be solved using three steps. These steps are defining the problem, getting ideas, and creating form. Each of these steps can be achieved in many ways.
After you have defined the design problem at hand you must begin getting ideas. Research is the first step to any design problem. You can do this with mind mapping, brainstorming, interviewing, questionnaires,and research online. You can also get more ideas by applying action verbs to your basic ideas, and do visual brain dumping. This means getting all of your ideas out on paper or on the screen. This includes trying the same set of characters in different typefaces to see which ones fit best. After you have done all of this you start to create form. This co-designing can be helpful at this step as well as creating mock-ups.