Meaningfulness and mutuality are principles for organisation and system design in a complex world. Globalisation, technological advance and climate change are changing work, organisations and systems in ways which foster inequality, alienation and collective risk. Organisations (private, public and civic) are being called to make their contribution to the common good, include multiple stakeholders, and respond ethically as well as efficiently to boundary-busting challenges. Mutuality recognises our unavoidable inter-dependence; meaningfulness addresses our need to lead a life we have reason to value. Together, meaningfulness and mutuality provide organisations and their stakeholders with practices for thinking, feeling and acting in the midst of complexity. This creates a sound basis for directing cooperation towards the urgent demands and moral purpose of sustainability.