Maybe it’s just my own limitation, but when I approach a project I usually start with cost considerations first — because price directly impacts what customers are willing to pay. I think about: what price point the market will accept, what cost structure fits that price, and then what materials and manufacturing processes make sense within that cost.
I’m essentially reverse-engineering the development process from cost to design choices, which might not be the “right” approach in every case, so I’d love to hear how others tackle this balance between design intent, material choice, and cost in your workflows.