A designer at Mapbox outlines a detailed process for creating new map styles, driven by specific use cases, product features, and current events, using a methodical approach that includes idea generation, extraction, simplification, ideation, and creation. The process begins with brainstorming and sketching initial ideas, followed by gathering information and analyzing original styles in tools like Adobe Illustrator. After simplifying the data into themes and visual elements, the designer formulates the final look by creating textures, selecting fonts, and refining color palettes, before executing the design in Mapbox Studio. This creative process was exemplified in the redesign of "Wheatpaste," a map style initially created by Ian Villeda in 2014.