How do you guys design levels and start projects?

[HeroLinik]

I just design whatever comes to my mind, for example if I was thinking of a forest level then I would go ahead and start making a forest level. However the problem with that is that I usually run out of ideas and my creativity decreases, and this means that I have to come back to it at a later time. Alternatively, I listen to a game soundtrack and that could give me the inspiration to use it in an SMBX level.
As for projects, I try to think of a good story and try to follow it at all times so the player is interested. The problem with that, though, is that a lot of projects lose the sense of the story about halfway through and it just becomes a "Mario saves the princess" affair.
So how do you guys get ideas? Do you design your levels on paper, listen to a game soundtrack or do something else to help you design your levels? Or do you just design off the bat without considering ideas beforehand? It's a similar case with starting projects as well. How do you guys get the idea to start projects? Do you think of a good story first off or do something else, or do you just design off the bat?

[Erik]

I plan out a project and then I start to work on it.

[Mable]

I make a game(level) for my gameboy(project) so people can play it. Thats the game, thats the boy this is the gameboy.

[Emral]

I ask Marina "hey how far is your project"
he replies "like 0% lmao"
I say "can I help you"
hes like "yes"
I make 6 levels within a week for it

Solo projects I cancel.

[Marina]

I start out with concepts for the project, then have them lie around a month because I'm too lazy to start, until Enjl comes along and asks if I need help. I'm like "lol why not" and he proceeds to do 600% the work I would've done in a month in one week and makes me question both my life choices and work ethics.

Meanwhile I've caught up a bit. (I finished one level)

[FanofSMBX]

I ask Marina "hey how far is your project"
he replies "like 0% lmao"
I say "can I help you"
hes like "yes"
I make 6 levels within a week for it

Solo projects I cancel.

Lucky. I make like 3 screens a week maybe.

[Liraxus]

1. Come up with neat idea
2. refuse to work with others
3. make like 1 or 2 levels
4. realize im pushing myself way too far with this
5. stop working on it
6. forget about it
7. cancel it

[RudeGuy]

i make projects about whatever i like
i start levels when i get an idea and i stop being lazy

[ShadowStarX]

I'm really random. Sometimes I design 3 levels a week, but sometimes I design just 1 level in 2 weeks. It depends on motivation mostly.
Also, I planned out 6 worlds in my project, but the levels aren't fixed. (even how many will I have, only I'll have at least 5 but not more than 11 per world)
I don't really design standalone levels without making another use for it.

[TheKingOfBoos]

I don't do levels that often, but here's my process for graphics.
1. Sit down at computer to do school.
2. Decide not to do school.
3. Flip on the SPM soundtrack and make graphics.

Here's how I come up with graphic ideas:
1. I think about it at work.
2. I think about it whilst walking around.
3. Graphic ideas take up about 50% of my thoughts.
Ok not really (on #3), but still

[Imaynotbehere4long]

I just kinda throw stuff together based on some vague concept I came up with and hope it works out.

[HenryRichard]

I make a bunch of levels and then try to inject a story into them.

[Sewpah]

I just think of a project to make and make up a story out of it. If I can't make up a story, I'll just go with the traditional Bowser-kidnaps-Peach story.

[RoundPiplup]

1: Make some levels
2: Design a hub
3: Make a story
4: Realize that everything made(almost everything) in that project looks terrible
5: Abandon it.

Though I think it's better to come up with a story first or get inspired from something.

[Knux848]

1. Get a creative moment
2. Spend the next 3 hours designing a level or the world map
3. Realize that it sucks
4. "Shit dude, this is way too much work"
5. Give up

[Navi]

1. I listen to music, then I use my "imagination" so I can design a level. I also make lvls if I'm super bored.
Start project?
2. Make lotsa levels

[Shidomaru]

1) I randomly decide I want to "do stuff" (if you know what I mean) to a random anime girl (usually a Touhou one), but I can't do that to her because she doesn't exist, so I instead decide to make a videogame about her.
2) Pick an already-existing game to use as a base (for Cirno the Fairy it's the first 8-Bit Sonic the Hedgehog, for example). Levels are only loosely based on the source material, though, in order to make them seem more original (the levels in Mega Mario Bros. are not EXACTLY like the Mega Man 1 stages, for example)
3) Build and finish ALL the levels in about 3 or 4 days with the default graphics.
4) Realize I can't draw my own graphics because I'm not an artist.
5) Ask around the internet for spriters.
6) Discover that NOBODY can draw sprites of cute anime girls because they're not japanese. (actually, a grand total of ONE person could draw one, but is way too busy with real life).
7) Attempt to rip sprites from other Touhou fangames without caring for the fact that they clash like liquid candy on grilled meat.
8) Have modest success with the enemies and NPCs, but epic-failing to make the playable Cirno sprite.
9) Play my episode again and again, finding lots of bugs and mistakes.
10) Fix the bugs and mistakes.
11) Balance the game because it's giving the player too many free 1-ups.
12) Learn how to use LunaDLL and add a few little cool stuff.
13) Re-skin some more enemies and NPCs with ripped Touhou fangame sprites, but still find no way to fix the playable Cirno sprite.
14) Ask for help on YouTube to a Yu-Gi-Oh fan who made a very good Cirno sprite and hacked it into Sonic The Hedgehog 3 (a still shot of that video was my whole inspiration for "Cirno the Fairy" in the first place).
15) Get no answer.
16) Give up on anime girls episodes and try to do something set in the Mario universe.
17) Find out about Knytt Stories.
18) Fall in "love" (not true love) with Juni and forget about SMBX for a while.

Knytt Stories is so awesome...

[PopYoshi]

It is rare and very unusual but I get to walk in all my room, I start thinking about ideas for a project and I get a lot of ideas in my mind

[MrPunchia]

Step 1: Story
Step 2: Make levels
Step 3:Stress
Step 4: Sprite (the drink)

[TheKingOfBoos]

Step 1: Story
Step 2: Make levels
Step 3:Stress
Step 4: Sprite (the drink)

*cough* Root beer is better *cough*