Below, I've rounded up 9 recommendations for things to do before you design a logo – or rather, before you create the final mark because I'd argue that these are all part of the design process proper.

Citation Toffel, Michael W., and Stephanie van Sice. "'Shad' Process Flow Design Exercise (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 608-086, May 2008. (Revised September 2009.) ...

Thomke, Stefan H. "Developing Products on Internet Time: A Process Design Exercise (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 603-087, March 2003.