Writer George Saunders coined the term “iconic space” to refer to a space one uniquely occupies because of their set of skills; to do work only they can do.

“They arrive already wonderful. What we try to do over the next three years is help them achieve what I call their “iconic space” — the place from which they will write the stories only they could write, using what makes them uniquely themselves…At this level, good writing is assumed; the goal is to help them acquire the technical means to become defiantly and joyfully themselves.”