On Magic and Models 4

Fragments from imaginary dialogues

“You use a certain linguistic pattern a lot: two words linked by a hyphen.

word-word

For example ‘transitional-space‘, or ‘decision-point‘. Can you explain the meaning of this pattern?”

“Viewed as a template [<link; medium read], the pattern looks like this:

model3 = model1-model2

model3 is the synergistic combination between model1 and model2. A ‘combo‘, to use some Magic [the Gathering] terminology.

A Magic the Gathering combo.
The two cards work together to produce a powerful effect (infinite recursion).

model3 is an emergent model.

Let’s take transitional-space, since you used it as an example. 

The models that make it up are transitional and space. Space here is used as a modifier-model, similar in function to how a linguistic suffix modifies the meaning of a word.

So modifier-models look like this:
Prefix: model-
Suffix: -model

I actually use this notation for modifier-models, so with a hyphen before or after the model-word. In your examples, the modifier-models are -space and -point. Using them, you can create all kinds of useful conceptual-tools.

A few examples:

creative-space
decision(al)-space
empty-space
liminal-space (threshold-space)
mental-space
negative-space
open-space
possibility-space
safe-space
sacred-space
temporal-space
transition(al)-space
…

access-point
beginning/middle/end-point
central/marginal-point
change-point
choice-point
decision(al)-point
failure-point
pause-point
pivot-point
reference-point
transition(al)-point
…

All these have potential practical application.

Combining models is a magical creative-playground – and a beautiful design-space.”