P: New user interface lacks contrast and many usability cues, lots of other problems

Now that Herbert posted this comparative screens it is even more obvious what all this is about: the new UI is lacks everything that was perfectly fine in the classic one. It lack contrast, readability, separations, too bright or too dark and basically a flat grey surface where the eye does not see targets and the mouse can't seem to click on the right spot.
And what scares me is that they think they did the right choice and will do the same to the other apps.

I think the consensus here was the pragmatic, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". We all were happy with the look, feel and functionality of 2014. the first 2015 would have been fine ,but burying SFW threw us all for a loop in a bad way...

Good idea, screenshots will make it easier to continue this conversation. Here are two, one from Photoshop CC 2015.2 and the second from InDesign CC 2015.2. I certainly prefer the second one for many reasons, but if you simply compare these two pictures you quickly see how faded and grey the Photoshop UI looks. As this is an interface this is not a matter of taste what exactly constitutes a "relaxing" feeling, but of usability and accessibility, above all other considerations.

I sincerely hope this makes you reconsider your earlier statement and that you will be adding a "classic UI” checkbox into the UI.

The last time Photoshop released a public beta was Photoshop CS6. We are having internal discussions about how something similar can be achieved with Creative Cloud. I mentioned Adobe MAX because I wanted to share my experiences from that event with this community. It was not my intention to suggest it was the only place we received customer feedback before our release.
At this time, the best way to provide feedback on the new UI is to attach screenshots of what you are having difficulty seeing.

Thanks,
Jeff

I have offered my beta test services several times here in this thread. We here at Penn State University conduct regular usability testing on almost all of our digital output. And, more importantly, everything goes through stringent accessibility testing. So I guess I have some experience to be helpful.

I also fully agree with outtacontext when he says a few comments above here, "I'm not sure I want to simply be told this is the way it will be without some understanding of how this improves our experiences with the application."

I too would rather like to be part of the conversation than to simply be told that's how it is – especially if it's about a tool we all use every day. 

Thanks Jeff for confirming that my choice to revert to CC 2014 was correct. 

Kurt has a good point. Adobe MAX. Hah!

I also beg to differ that Adobe MAX would be the place to "test" user enthusiasm, when it is an expensive ($1000+) event that really only the passionate Adobe geeks that will attend. You need a broader base of truly working professionals.

I do like the new icons, and yes, it's ok to periodically change the tail fins just to keep things fresh. My primary beef is the swampy mess of gray where everything looks like everything else. I'm glad to read Jeff's comment which addresses that.

Well, Jeff, now you know that there is a significant portion of your user base that you are failing to account for when you test major new changes to the UI. As many people here have said, we would be more than happy to volunteer for focus groups and UX testing.