What is meant by an iterative design process?

Whilst there are stages to follow during the design process, these stages are iterative. This means that if you go from stage 1 to 2 to 3, this does not mean you have to keep going, and can return to previous stages if they need addressing.

For example, if an idea has passed concept, ideation and moves on the protyping stages, and at this stage a problem with the design is discovered, you would have to return to previous stages like designing or concept generation depending on how severe the problem was.