This phase can be initiated in various ways. I’ve tackled projects where a design system or visual style guide is pre-established, while others require starting from scratch. In the absence of predefined elements, my typical starting point involves crafting a flexible color scheme, establishing typographic hierarchy, and defining spacing/grid structures—though subject to potential adjustments. This foundational work is crucial for maintaining consistency and expediting the design of components and layouts. Fortunately modern design tools allow designers to keep this approach neat. My procedure on visual design is very much in line with the so-called “Atomic” design. It means that smaller and simpler components combined together create more complex and responsive “organisms” that compose the interface final design. Once it’s matured enough, I create comprehensive prototypes to validate the design with users and stakeholders, this time with a more realistic perspective on the final product. Once it’s validated it’s time to document and handoff for production.