How to actually start designing?

Hey everybody, i have a problem and i am not sure how to move forward. I started to get more and more jobs as a lighting operator/programmer, only small to medium corporate events/ conferences/ live streams, which is great but always someone else is doing the design part. usually there is not much designing just using what companies have at their disposal some washes/profiles for front lights, and led bars/pars/for walls and backgrounds. sometimes there is DJ/ small band but not often, or my employer just makes them themselves. Now for the question, how do i find inspiration, or how do you come up with designs in the first place, is it usually client asking for something specific or they just give you the budget and tell you to make something that fits, and if yes how do you choose specific fixtures if there is so much choices. Sorry for my chaotic post.
Thank you in advance for your replies