Embeded Design

So /prog/,
I wanna learn how to do embedded design, interfacing, and programming (sort of like how TI's are made, and old school non-complex computers such as the c64).

Any advice, information, etc. to point me in the right direction? I'd prefer to get input from people who have experience in this area. For example, I have an tiny display that works from a phone. Don't know how to use it, but want to take a cpu (I have a 8086 chip lying around), a ROM, and write the software to put a circle or something on the screen.

>>12
Those cellphone LCD displays are pretty popular, so it'll be easy to find both schematics and code to adapt.

Trying to build anything more complicated with old components like an 8086 or 68000 is becoming more difficult, because the peripheral ICs are no longer manufactured. Scavenging or lucking on some old new stock works if you're doing a one-off, but making something no-one else will ever use is not very fun.