Understand the Problem
The first step in my design process is to understand the project goals. In this phase I will typically define business and design goals, do competitive analysis and speak with the engineering team to understand technical limitations.
Understand the User
At the same time, I want to understand who will be using what I am designing. This is my favorite part of the process because I always learn something interesting and unexpected.
Iterate and Refine
Once I have a handle on what I'm designing and who I'm designing it for, it's time to brainstorm ideas, get feedback and iteratively refine to come up with a solution.