How do you approach the design process? (+video)

[Bongle]

With the season now over, it's time to start thinking of next year!

During one of my design courses, we watched this video about a company called Ideo. The company doesn't make anything but ideas, often on a tight deadline, and rarely the same idea twice. I thought the video and the ideas within it could apply to FIRST teams, as our goals are similar and I've long thought that the "sit in a room and chat about how our robot should look" design process is not optimal. Also, I've noticed that of the top-tier teams who have hinted at or described their design processes, a common thread is that they have a documented design process with various stages.

Anyway, here is the video: http://www.ideo.com/images/media/nightline.mov

This thread isn't just about the video, I'm also curious: does your team have a process to how you design? Do you just go into a room and talk about how your robot will look? Does everyone submit an idea and vote? Is it a group decision? Does someone have veto power? Is it all students that design? All mentors? A mix? How long does it take? I'm curious how different teams approach it, and especially how perennially successful teams do it.