find unique looks that would suit a variety of cakes.
go to your local bakery or a well-known bakery in your neighborhood and take a look at their cakes. if you see a design that intrigues you, ask the baker to tell you more about it or give you some advice about how to decorate in a similar way.
contact a culinary or baking school in your area and ask if you can come view cakes that the students make. you may have to wait for certain times of the year to come around before you can do this, but it's a good way to see a lot of designs in person 