Is it safe to suggest doing your own design first, after speaking with everyone involved, and then do some research looking at previous productions? YouTube is a great resource for this. While you want to present your own design, there's no reason not to look for what is considered standard in other productions, to avoid reinventing the wheel when it comes to your design, or to overlook something considered traditional and expected by your audience. I find this to be especially useful when dealing with difficult scenic demands - like the stupid bridge in Les Mis.
That said, certainly begin with your own design work.