Design Evaluation

I discovered two ads for LEGO, one modern one, and an older one. Although LEGOs are typically a child's toy, both ads are targeted towards adults.
I found this 2011 LEGO ad to be a fantastic example of good design. The disproportion of negative space focuses the attention on the crossword puzzle happening in the center of the ad. The hues of the different little LEGO pieces and the soft green background give way to a playful, childlike feeling. Also, the contrast between the light green and the intensity of the red from the LEGO logo draws the eye to the brand emblem.
Many Gestalt laws are put to use here, including the Law of Closure: the pieces closed off by the red crayon line are seen as a whole, which would create a tractor. The Law of Similarity can also be seen in the pieces of the tractor in that they are all related in color.

This ad, also for LEGO, is from 1981. While this ad does foster a nostalgic, vintage feeling, I found it to be a poorer example of good design. There is a lot of text on the ad, which can sometimes put off an audience and deter them from paying further attention to it. The dull brown hue of the background creates no interest, does not catch my attention, and doesn't convey the same sense of fun as the green of the previous image. In fact, it contrasts with the colorful LEGO pieces in the girl's creation in a negative way. It makes them look dated and dreary. Also, there are multiple different font types, which make the already busy text even worse visually.