The first place I start is by researching my audience and topic. I try to get a feel for who will be looking at the work and what look would be appropriate for the audience and topic. I like to make sure that I know general histories of the topic/audience and also try to find out what the culture of the topic is. I like to make sure I don't design something that is offensive or intellectually lacking (a poster, for example, on women's history would be lacking if susan b anthony wasn't somehow (at least in reference) in there).
From there, I look for inspiration. I look at what media has come from this topic or related topics, check out other designer's work, and try to formulate some ideas. Note that all of this is for style purposes and all done before I even touch a piece of paper or open photoshop.
After that, I begin to create/compile the art that will fill the design.
Then I begin to draw and come up with concepts, styles, looks. After generalizing what I want the feel to be, I start to photoshop the art and feel around for a look that I think works. Sometimes it ends up being nothing like my original concepts (through happy accidents and whatnot). Lots of experimentation here.
As this is happening, I begin to get a feel for what my overall design will look like with type on it.
I then open indesign and choose fonts and type styles. Often, by this point, I will have created a look that lends itself easily to a certain font/typographic style.
All of the pieces fall into place at this point and most of what's left is refinement.
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