Autopoiesis (from Greek auto = self, poiesis = creation) is the idea that a living system continuously creates, maintains, and regenerates itself. An autopoietic system is one that produces the components that make it what it is, and keeps itself going through its own internal processes. It’s a concept from biology and systems theory (Maturana & Varela), often applied to living cells, ecosystems, organizations, and even social systems.
The Institute is an organization dedicated to research and development of Autopoiesis concepts into human society, an organization for survival of human species. Improving work organizations, and developing processes that are more in line with reintegrating humans into the environment, seeking equilibrium with its natural environment, as opposed to ravaging it.
The design concept I developed is based on the powerful and ancient archetype of a circle, which represents a cyclic process of continuous improvement. It also symbolizes nature and moral, ecological inner and outer relationships in a self-contained, alive system.