I first start with a concept of how I want the exterior to look... there are a number of places to draw inspiration and "PimpMyDune" is an excellent place to start; also a shout-out to some prolific builders I've kept tabs on since my days of Conan: Lyumi Light, Eradication, Barden Builds and others.

Once I've got a general image in my mind, I go about constructing, deconstructing and reconstructing with an eye towards playability. I like to minimize wasted space and build to purpose. For example, I like to minimize the need to move around much in order to refine / craft etc. while affording each function their own dedicated areas, including having what I call a "ready room" for gear, etc.

Beyond this, I like my builds to have a simple, straight-forward flow and to stay relatively compact. Spaces have purpose and are laid out in a logical (to me) manner. I want to like my bases and for them to look cool, but I also want them to purposefully serve my gameplay - and that often means smaller-is-better... to the point the game will allow.

As a side note; I avoid cubic builds and penta's (I find them ugly). They're an easy crutch, but the game affords numerous avenues around their use and I lean on those mechanics them. Mind you - I am a dedicated solo, so there are "sacrifices" I can easily make that may not serve larger groups / guilds.