sketches?

1. research: ideation, gathering info, brainstorming

2. sketches: concepting and/or initial design ideas
> most likely done by hand
> sometimes called thumbnail sketches due to their small size

3. roughs or rough layouts: taking the most promising sketches
and further developing them.
> sometimes this step is referred to as 'digital sketches' as some
of the initial sketches may begin to take loose shape on the computer
(depending on the type of project)

4. comprehensives or 'comps'
the most promising rough(s) become more tight and refined.
may or may not be a 'digital comp'
> one more step before the final may be 'tight comps'

5. then of course the final. the completed design.

sometimes this process varies slightly with different projects.