Adobe goes Pizzazz, redesign website, break some rules

Adobe has redesigned their website. The new main element is the “Pizzazz” banner right below the main menu. Sure they have to promote their technologies; after all they sell software, but I don´t think is necessary have a ¾ of the screen covered with a pizzazz message.

When I visit Adobe.com I know exactly what I am looking for: the new beta of Flex or some news of the Spry Framework or something else. The pizzazz is not help at all, in this case. Looks like the marketing people jump over the UI/UX team this time.

Where I am?

First I noticed when see the new design was: Where the hell I am. Adobe is breaking some design rules here, putting their branding (logo, etc) on the right. Why Adobe why? Everybody notice the website they are by the logo on the top left, and everybody expect that. Making this change left some people lost in the dark.

Colors?

Looks like Black/Gray color schemes are the new Black of Corporate websites. They have tested this color scheme before with the Adobe DevNet, and seems to work pretty well.

Navigation

The main menu is omnipresent on all pages and gives a quick way to jump to almost every part of the gigantic Adobe site with a few clicks. The new design of the menu: just works, is simple, no rounder corners, and have an easy to see color scheme. Just I will like if the hover option on the submenu have some type of background color change, just underline is not so easy to notice.
When you click away of the main page, you get some others navigation elements. The breadcrumbs this time play very well with the page title. In some other part of the site other submenus may appear. But is not so easy to notice where you are in the hierarchy of the site once you go deep.

Layout

The main layout for many parts of the site is a 2 columns layout with the right column divided in 2 columns; this is a 3 columns layout then?

The main back step with the layout is the anchored to the left of the entire site, maximize the browser and you see how the site get stuck to the left. Anyone can get some centered fixed design now days, why you don´t? Also looks ugly having so much blank space on the right.

Typography

This one is really readable, not pleasant but readable, abusing of Arial font here. But overall the typography gives some sort of confidence sense in the site, strong, not so bold, and flexible.

Finally

This time Adobe make some mistakes but that will be corrected on the near future, I hope.