I desperately want to learn more about board layout and system design. I think the costs of making custom hardware have fallen so much that a hardware renaissance is almost here, if not already. I've done embedded/kernel work before, so I theoretically have that side covered. :)

Does anyone know of a list of projects I should do to at least be able to pickup kicad/eagle to start laying out boards into gerber files into manufactured boards?

One suggestion I got was to design and implement one's own Atari Punk Console: http://www.makershed.com/product_p/mkjr2.htm

I also found this book: http://www.amazon.com/Build-Your-Printed-Circuit-Board/dp/00...