With the actual modeling portion, I normally try to make sure I keep everything in the model as close to primitives (default shapes) as possible, without much subdivisions, as to keep it as simple as possible. This ensures it to have that cool low poly look, along with being much easier to work with down the line. I also model other parts of the object with other objects instead of staying in the editor, as when I rig things (not covered in this website), I try not to deform my models when possible.