There are fifty ways to become a better designer. For designers in technology it is imperative to be one of the best in order to succeed. The way you work as a designer is going to determine if you will be a lead or a secondary designer. Design is the process of reaching the final product. A design could mean a building, website, photos, etc. A bad design that has faults will not succeed at conventions or in a business.
The first part of the process for designers is the ideas stage. The person will look for ways to create a new design. Often these top individuals do not start with a blank slate, but something that is easier to work with like a rough composition.