diff --git a/frontend/src/assets/theme.css b/frontend/src/assets/theme.css
index fcb2586..d9aee10 100644
--- a/frontend/src/assets/theme.css
+++ b/frontend/src/assets/theme.css
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Fraunces:ital,opsz,wght@0,9..144,300..900;1,9..144,300..900&display=swap');
+
 :root {
   --color-bg: #f5f5fb;
   --color-bg-secondary: #ededf5;
@@ -111,6 +113,11 @@ body {
   transition: background-color 0.2s, color 0.2s;
 }
 
+h1, h2, h3 {
+  font-family: 'Fraunces', Georgia, serif;
+  font-optical-sizing: auto;
+}
+
 input:focus-visible,
 textarea:focus-visible,
 select:focus-visible,
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/AppHeader.vue b/frontend/src/components/AppHeader.vue
index 2f8fc03..ca00321 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/AppHeader.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/AppHeader.vue
@@ -166,7 +166,6 @@ onUnmounted(() => document.removeEventListener("click", handleClickOutside));
 <style scoped>
 .app-header {
   background: var(--color-bg-secondary);
-  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--color-border);
   position: relative;
 }
 .nav {
@@ -182,8 +181,11 @@ onUnmounted(() => document.removeEventListener("click", handleClickOutside));
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
   gap: 0.4rem;
-  font-weight: 700;
-  font-size: 1.1rem;
+  font-family: 'Fraunces', Georgia, serif;
+  font-optical-sizing: auto;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  font-size: 1.15rem;
+  letter-spacing: -0.01em;
   color: var(--color-primary);
   text-decoration: none;
   flex-shrink: 0;
@@ -217,12 +219,13 @@ onUnmounted(() => document.removeEventListener("click", handleClickOutside));
 }
 .nav-link:hover {
   color: var(--color-primary);
-  background: var(--color-bg-card);
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-primary) 8%, transparent);
 }
 .nav-link.router-link-active {
   color: var(--color-primary);
-  background: var(--color-bg-card);
   font-weight: 600;
+  box-shadow: inset 0 -2px 0 var(--color-primary);
+  border-radius: 0;
 }
 
 /* Status indicator */
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ChatMessage.vue b/frontend/src/components/ChatMessage.vue
index 365a965..14dc4d1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ChatMessage.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ChatMessage.vue
@@ -155,6 +155,12 @@ const timingParts = computed((): string[] => {
 }
 .role-assistant .role-label {
   color: var(--color-primary);
+  font-family: 'Fraunces', Georgia, serif;
+  font-optical-sizing: auto;
+  font-style: italic;
+  font-size: 0.8rem;
+  text-transform: none;
+  letter-spacing: 0;
 }
 
 .thinking-block {
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/NoteCard.vue b/frontend/src/components/NoteCard.vue
index 1e4d17a..d3461f0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/NoteCard.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/NoteCard.vue
@@ -60,15 +60,15 @@ function goEdit() {
 .note-card {
   display: block;
   padding: 1rem;
-  border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
   border-radius: var(--radius-md);
   text-decoration: none;
   color: inherit;
   background: var(--color-bg-card);
-  transition: box-shadow 0.15s;
+  box-shadow: 0 1px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.06), 0 0 0 1px rgba(99, 102, 241, 0.06);
+  transition: box-shadow 0.2s;
 }
 .note-card:hover {
-  box-shadow: 0 2px 8px var(--color-shadow);
+  box-shadow: 0 4px 16px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.10), 0 0 0 1px rgba(99, 102, 241, 0.14);
 }
 
 /* Compact single-row layout */
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/TaskCard.vue b/frontend/src/components/TaskCard.vue
index a8136ba..dd6d436 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/TaskCard.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/TaskCard.vue
@@ -97,15 +97,15 @@ function isOverdue(): boolean {
 .task-card {
   display: block;
   padding: 1rem;
-  border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
   border-radius: var(--radius-md);
   text-decoration: none;
   color: inherit;
   background: var(--color-bg-card);
-  transition: box-shadow 0.15s;
+  box-shadow: 0 1px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.06), 0 0 0 1px rgba(99, 102, 241, 0.06);
+  transition: box-shadow 0.2s;
 }
 .task-card:hover {
-  box-shadow: 0 2px 8px var(--color-shadow);
+  box-shadow: 0 4px 16px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.10), 0 0 0 1px rgba(99, 102, 241, 0.14);
 }
 
 /* Compact single-row layout */
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/HomeView.vue b/frontend/src/views/HomeView.vue
index 14a8242..5650e3b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/HomeView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/HomeView.vue
@@ -523,6 +523,7 @@ function clearDashboardResponse() {
 .quick-action-chip:hover:not(:disabled) {
   border-color: var(--color-primary);
   color: var(--color-primary);
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-primary) 8%, transparent);
 }
 .quick-action-chip:disabled { opacity: 0.4; cursor: default; }
 
@@ -530,9 +531,10 @@ function clearDashboardResponse() {
 .dashboard-response {
   margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
   padding: 0.75rem 1rem;
-  background: var(--color-bg-secondary);
-  border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+  background: var(--color-bg-card);
+  border-left: 2px solid var(--color-primary);
   border-radius: var(--radius-md);
+  box-shadow: var(--color-bubble-asst-shadow);
 }
 .dashboard-response-query {
   font-size: 0.8rem;
@@ -579,7 +581,6 @@ function clearDashboardResponse() {
   gap: 0.75rem;
   margin-top: 0.75rem;
   padding-top: 0.5rem;
-  border-top: 1px solid var(--color-border);
 }
 .btn-open-chat {
   font-size: 0.85rem;
@@ -589,13 +590,18 @@ function clearDashboardResponse() {
 }
 .btn-open-chat:hover { text-decoration: underline; }
 .btn-open-chat.prominent {
-  background: var(--color-primary);
+  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #6366f1, #4f46e5);
   color: #fff;
   padding: 0.35rem 0.85rem;
   border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
   font-size: 0.9rem;
+  box-shadow: 0 1px 6px rgba(99, 102, 241, 0.25);
+}
+.btn-open-chat.prominent:hover {
+  text-decoration: none;
+  box-shadow: 0 3px 12px rgba(99, 102, 241, 0.45);
+  filter: brightness(1.08);
 }
-.btn-open-chat.prominent:hover { text-decoration: none; opacity: 0.9; }
 .btn-clear-response {
   font-size: 0.8rem;
   color: var(--color-text-muted);
@@ -680,15 +686,15 @@ function clearDashboardResponse() {
 .project-mini-card {
   display: block;
   padding: 0.75rem;
-  border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
   border-radius: var(--radius-md);
   background: var(--color-bg-card);
   text-decoration: none;
   color: inherit;
+  box-shadow: 0 1px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.06), 0 0 0 1px rgba(99, 102, 241, 0.06);
   transition: box-shadow 0.15s;
 }
 .project-mini-card:hover {
-  box-shadow: 0 2px 8px var(--color-shadow);
+  box-shadow: 0 4px 16px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.10), 0 0 0 1px rgba(99, 102, 241, 0.14);
 }
 .project-mini-title {
   font-size: 0.9rem;
@@ -723,6 +729,7 @@ function clearDashboardResponse() {
 .ms-fill {
   height: 100%;
   border-radius: 999px;
+  background: var(--color-primary);
   transition: width 0.3s;
 }
 .ms-pct {
@@ -743,17 +750,30 @@ function clearDashboardResponse() {
 
 .loading { color: var(--color-text-secondary); }
 .empty-state { text-align: center; padding: 1.5rem 0; }
+.empty-state::before {
+  content: "✦";
+  display: block;
+  font-size: 1.2rem;
+  color: var(--color-primary);
+  opacity: 0.4;
+  margin-bottom: 0.4rem;
+}
 .empty-text { color: var(--color-text-muted); margin: 0 0 0.75rem; }
 .btn-cta {
   display: inline-block;
   padding: 0.45rem 1rem;
-  background: var(--color-primary);
+  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #6366f1, #4f46e5);
   color: #fff;
   border: none;
   border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
   text-decoration: none;
   font-size: 0.9rem;
   cursor: pointer;
+  box-shadow: 0 1px 6px rgba(99, 102, 241, 0.25);
+}
+.btn-cta:hover {
+  box-shadow: 0 3px 12px rgba(99, 102, 241, 0.45);
+  filter: brightness(1.08);
 }
 
 /* Mobile */
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/NotesListView.vue b/frontend/src/views/NotesListView.vue
index 98f2623..33e480f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/NotesListView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/NotesListView.vue
@@ -201,11 +201,16 @@ function onOffsetUpdate(offset: number) {
 }
 .btn-new {
   padding: 0.45rem 1rem;
-  background: var(--color-primary);
+  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #6366f1, #4f46e5);
   color: #fff;
   border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
   text-decoration: none;
   font-size: 0.9rem;
+  box-shadow: 0 1px 6px rgba(99, 102, 241, 0.25);
+}
+.btn-new:hover {
+  box-shadow: 0 3px 12px rgba(99, 102, 241, 0.45);
+  filter: brightness(1.08);
 }
 .controls {
   display: flex;
@@ -312,11 +317,16 @@ function onOffsetUpdate(offset: number) {
 .btn-cta {
   display: inline-block;
   padding: 0.45rem 1rem;
-  background: var(--color-primary);
+  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #6366f1, #4f46e5);
   color: #fff;
   border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
   text-decoration: none;
   font-size: 0.9rem;
+  box-shadow: 0 1px 6px rgba(99, 102, 241, 0.25);
+}
+.btn-cta:hover {
+  box-shadow: 0 3px 12px rgba(99, 102, 241, 0.45);
+  filter: brightness(1.08);
 }
 
 .kb-active-item {
diff --git a/summary.md b/summary.md
index 3c65c3e..104a7b8 100644
--- a/summary.md
+++ b/summary.md
@@ -12,7 +12,23 @@
 >    Include file-level details in the commit body when the change is non-trivial.
 
 ## Last Updated
-2026-03-10 — CI/CD optimization: custom runner base image, explicit label naming, pip caching, Node 22.
+2026-03-10 — UI polish pass: "Illuminated Transcript" design language, Fraunces typography, indigo gradient buttons, shadow-based card depth, bubble hierarchy flip.
+
+**UI polish pass — design language:**
+- `frontend/src/assets/theme.css`: added Fraunces Google Font import; `h1/h2/h3` use `font-family: 'Fraunces', Georgia, serif`; `--radius-md` 8→12px, `--radius-lg` 12→18px; added thin indigo-tinted scrollbars (4px); added bubble-specific CSS variables (`--color-bubble-user-*`, `--color-bubble-asst-shadow`); dark palette shifted from generic navy (#1a1a2e family) to slate-indigo (#111113 family).
+- `frontend/src/components/AppLogo.vue`: logo book fill changed from `var(--color-text)` (black in light mode) to `var(--color-primary)` (indigo). Stroke updated to `color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-primary) 70%, transparent)`.
+- `frontend/src/components/AppHeader.vue`: removed `border-bottom` from `.app-header`; nav brand uses Fraunces font; active nav link uses `inset 0 -2px 0 var(--color-primary)` underline instead of background fill.
+- `frontend/src/components/ChatMessage.vue`: user bubble ghosted (transparent bg, thin border, muted text); assistant bubble elevated with left `2px solid var(--color-primary)` accent + shadow; assistant role label in Fraunces italic indigo; thinking block uses left-accent instead of full border.
+- `frontend/src/views/ChatView.vue`: removed sidebar/header/context-sidebar borders; streaming bubble matches assistant style; active conversation item uses 15% indigo tint; send button and queued bubbles use indigo gradient + glow.
+- `frontend/src/components/NoteCard.vue`, `TaskCard.vue`: removed `border: 1px solid`; replaced with whisper shadow (`0 1px 4px + 0 0 0 1px indigo tint`); elevated shadow on hover.
+- `frontend/src/views/HomeView.vue`: `dashboard-response` uses left indigo accent + elevation shadow (no border); `dashboard-response-actions` border-top removed; quick-action-chip hover adds indigo bg tint; project-mini-card uses whisper shadow; ms-fill progress bars use `var(--color-primary)`; `.btn-cta` and `.btn-open-chat.prominent` use indigo gradient + glow; `.empty-state::before` adds decorative `✦` marker.
+- `frontend/src/views/NotesListView.vue`: `.btn-new` and `.btn-cta` use indigo gradient + glow on hover.
+
+**Design intent:** "Illuminated Transcript" — LLM responses are primary artifacts (elevated, card-like, indigo accent left-border), user prompts are subordinate margin notes (ghosted, recessed). Buttons with the gradient carry intentional weight. Borders replaced by shadow depth throughout.
+
+---
+
+**Previous session (2026-03-10):** CI/CD optimization: custom runner base image, explicit label naming, pip caching, Node 22.
 
 **CI/CD infrastructure overhaul:**
 - `infra/Dockerfile.runner-base` (new): Ubuntu 24.04 base image with Python 3.12 (native, no PPA) and Node 22 LTS pre-installed. Tagged `py3.12-node22`. Eliminates the ~3-4 min deadsnakes PPA install that ran on every test job. Build/push command in file header.