I start with talking to the users. Great design considers the audience as well
as the environment, and the quality of the end product starts here. It could be eyecandy, but does it function as well?
To me a design should grab your attention and evoke an emotion or sense of place.
Then, keep your attention by staying out of your way and enhancing your experience from the background.
It's time to build, but handing off to development leaves a lot of room for interpretation. I build the UI and
hand it off, eliminating errors and rework.