The Little ZYGO

Models represent complex ideas and relationships in visual, spatial, and tactile ways. The BLT framework can be modelled in many different ways (i.e. shapes, spaces, and colours). 

• A ZYGO is a model for Big Little Thinking (BLT). 
• There are many different ways of representing BLT as a model (i.e. type of ZYGOs), however all share the same conceptual structure.
• To understand the ZYGO is to understand the dimensions, and dynamics of BLT. 
• To think through the ZYGO is to see the world through a window - a Big Little Window. 

BLT can be understood through more simple or more complex models (i.e. ZYGOs):

1. The Little ZYGO is the simplest model or 'Big Little Window' and represents the core relationship of BLT between left-right and positive-negative. 
2. The Big ZYGO is a more complex model that represents more variables (i.e. lefts and rights; positives and negatives) and more diverse and differentiated relationships between BLT's dimensions, and dynamics.

The Little ZYGO is a 'window on the world' that can be understood and applied independently to explore a range of problems. 

Specifically, the Little ZYGO explores problems through four panes or perspectives on a pair. It combines two of BLT's four dimensions (Left-Right and Positive-Negative) to explore the most significant pairs (zygos) of a problem. Accordingly, the four panes are:

• Left-Positive
• Left Negative
• Right Positive
• Right Negative.

All zygos relevant to the problem can be explored through the four panes of the ZYGO. This exploration leads to (a) the realisation of relationships between different zygos, and (b) the realisation of the relevance of the other frames of BLT's more comprehensive model - the Big ZYGO.

The ZYGO is usefully seen as a lens or window on the world. It is part window, part mirror. Consider the following quotes for inspiration:

• "The purpose of education is to turn windows into mirrors". (Sydney J. Harris)
   
• "Through all the windows I only see infinity". (Mark Z. Danielewski)
   
• "I live in a small house but my window looks out on a very large world". (Confucius)
   
• "My favourite journey is looking out the window". (Edward Gorey)