Simon Ince has a 7-part series on the basics of architecting an application using the Web Client Software Factory. If you would like some guidance or a refresher on the basics of layering, loose-coupling, certain design patterns, etc. you may want to check out his tutorials.
His tutorials are as follows:
- WCSF Application Architecture 1: Introduction
- WCSF Application Architecture 2: Application Controller
- WCSF Application Architecture 3: Model View Presenter
- WCSF Application Architecture 4: Environment Abstraction
- WCSF Application Architecture 5: Defining Modules
- WCSF Application Architecture 6: Structuring Modules
- WCSF Application Architecture 7: Remote Logic with WCF Services
Part 7 has links to the other tutorials here.
A lot of this information can be found in the WCSF Documentation, particularly the concepts around Application Controllers, Model-View-Presenter, Defining Modules, and Structuring Modules. The WCSF Documentation is wonderful and discusses the design patterns in a general way without locking you into the use of the Web Client Software Factory.
I also recommend looking at the Compsite Application Guidance for WPF. I know what you are thinking - "What does this have to do with web applications?" Nothing, but again, the Composite Application Guidance for WPF ( formerly known as Prism ) talks about a lot of fundamental development concepts that are technology agnostic. You can find my thoughts on the documentation here:
If you want more information on layering, loose-coupling, and design patterns, there are certainly a number of good books, too. I am going to mention one of my favorite books, Applying UML and Patterns: An Introduction to Object-Oriented Analysis and Design and Iterative Development
It is literally a text book used in development courses and reads very well. Granted you won't find code in VB or C#, but the patterns and principles on architecting your applications are universal.
I also recommend watching my WCSF Screencasts that go over the Web Client Software Factory internals, design patterns, and fundamentals. Here are just a few:
Hope this helps,
David Hayden