The latest stable version of Joomla is coming soon. You can, however, fly bleeding edge by the seat of your pants and download RC3 here. Good luck!

They have also released 1.5 RC3, Codename Takriban. Takriban means ‘almost, nearly’! We can’t wait to redesign theconsciousdesign.com with 1.5!

Roll out the red carpet. Wordpress won the Best Open Source Social Networking CMS Award from Packt!

Whether you are starting a new site from scratch or attempting to “flip that site,” there are some things you should consider.

• What is the purpose of your site?
• Who are your visitors?
• Why will they come back?

For example, Conscious Design hopes to spread information regarding best web practices and serve as a dynamic business card to potential clients. The goals of your site have much to do with the look and functionality. Some sites focus mainly on functionality and others go heavy on design elements. Conscious Design tries to supply both — up-to-date design industry information and pleasant, ever-evolving aesthetic.

The days of the static site — an uploaded colorful pdf — are long gone. Visitors crave quick content. That’s where database interaction comes into play. I tell prospective clients and designers routinely that Wordpress works wonders. So, before you go out and spend thousands on a Microsoftian monster of a CMS, consider the amazing, light-weight wealth of open source blogging software that is free to the masses.

The new web separates style from function. The new web flattens the playing field. The new web is living, breathing…conscious.