Uhhh well. I guess my thought process is how I can mend the real animal they are based on with the canon design they have. And then some added flavors like cherry or vanilla.
I also have a strong sense on how things look in my style. Mighty for example is an armadillo. So if I were to draw an armadillo alone like not the character, I make the scaley skin and hard shell, the little pig nose, and the wispy hairs. So looking at the canon design, how can I translate that.
I adjusted where his ears would go, gave him a long little snout, and a more visible and big tail. I still kept his newer shoes and gloves designs (kinda), the harsh brow shape, and all the colors.
After that is when I add flare. He’s got variety in shades on his shell/scales or whatever it is idk actually, and also little claws like his base animal. I also have this little thing I enjoy doing with Sonic and Amy too where if they have different colored arms, I like to blend that into their bellies to make an interesting flow.
I usually don’t make a lot of different designs first. Usually how I do things is that I’ll adjust them through time and how often I draw them. Like Amy I adjusted the most. I tried keeping pretty canon with coloring and shape language at first, but then I started thinking “but I like it like this a little more” and changed it up.
Here’s a ref I haven’t posted (it’s old now anyways lol) and my newest drawing of her as example.
Quite a few things changed as I drew her more and find a good rhythm.