It's not just a case of deciding to go out and buy a new skin, something like this (especially with a community of this size) takes very careful planning and implementation. I have no problems with the current design, I love it but it simply doesn't allow for much development forward.

I have thought about this hard over the last few months and i'm not 100% sure a new design would be the solution, half the members would hate it and leave, half would love it....the tweeners would come and go. New skins have a habit of making or breaking a forum. Aside from the skin the new elements such as a custom built blogging system/directory and knowledge base isn't something that can be achieved overnight (or for the new year) if I do decide a new site is whats required the earliest you could expect to see it is the summer.

I'm all for ideas though and it would be interesting to see what the community feel about the possibility of a new design/site.....i'll post a poll up tommorow!