The principal applies to anything that I create. Whether it be application user interfaces,  web sites, animations, or any other design task, the space of consideration starts as a tangle of  intertwining requirements. "I want the product to be simple to use, but I want to add 5 new features." "The animation needs to convey our brand image, be fun, and can only occupy 5 KB of disk space."

I start by brainstorming outside of the constraints of these requirements. Often constraints are artificially imposed because of lack of information, or an affinity for what has been done before. I feel like it is my responsibility as a creative professional to ask "Why?". Pushing the boundaries in this way is what makes design fun, and is usually what results in an innovative solution.

Once I've pushed the boundaries, I evaluate all of the potential solutions for feasibility and reality. No one wants to hear the world's greatest idea that can't possibly be implemented.