You might want to take a look at the book "Beginning SQL Server 2008 Administration." I wrote the chapters on backup, restore, and performance tuning. It covers everything in SQL Server, so it might be a good place to start. Since you're specifically talking design, you might also want to check out Louis Davidson's book on database design.
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
- Theodore Roosevelt
Author of:
SQL Server Execution Plans
SQL Server Query Performance Tuning