diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index 29a75eb..c60fc43 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ repos:
         types: [text]
         files: ^frontend/
 
+      # Font sizes come from the Tailwind scale only; see the Typography
+      # section in the root DESIGN-GUIDELINES.md.
+      - id: no-arbitrary-font-size
+        name: no arbitrary text-[…] font sizes
+        entry: 'text-\[[0-9.]+(rem|px|em)\]'
+        language: pygrep
+        files: ^frontend/src/.*\.tsx$
+
       - id: local-ruff-check
         name: ruff check
         entry: uv run ruff check --force-exclude --fix --exit-non-zero-on-fix
diff --git a/DESIGN.md b/DESIGN.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cba28d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/DESIGN.md
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# Design system (Fluksio)
+
+`fluksio` (dashboard SPA + API) and `website` (marketing site) are **separate
+repos** that share one visual design. The full, canonical spec — palette,
+radius, elevation, motion, component map, and shell patterns — lives in the
+parent repo's [`DESIGN-GUIDELINES.md`](../DESIGN-GUIDELINES.md). Read it before
+any UI work.
+
+## Sync rule (read before touching tokens)
+
+The `@theme inline`, `:root`, and `.dark` blocks in `fluksio/frontend/src/index.css`
+and `website/src/index.css` **must be kept byte-identical**, and
+`frontend/src/lib/motion.ts` is duplicated verbatim. Any palette / radius /
+elevation / motion-token change is made in *both* repos in the same change.
+There is intentionally no shared npm package — the duplicated blocks are the
+sync point. Components (`src/components/ui/*`) are copied per repo (the shadcn
+model) and may diverge; only the tokens and motion presets must match.
+
+Both repos share `components.json`: style `new-york`, `cssVariables: true`,
+icon library `lucide`.
+
+Verify with `make design-check` from the workspace root.
+
+## Shell
+
+The authenticated area is a `bg-card` region (`SidebarProvider`) with a floating
+translucent `AppSidebar` (`variant="floating"`, `bg-card/80 backdrop-blur-md`).
+The flow editor floats its chrome over a full-bleed node canvas using the same
+frosted-surface model. See DESIGN-GUIDELINES.md → Shells and → Overlay surfaces
+& content chips.
diff --git a/frontend/public/fonts/inter-latin-variable.woff2 b/frontend/public/fonts/inter-latin-variable.woff2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d15208d
Binary files /dev/null and b/frontend/public/fonts/inter-latin-variable.woff2 differ
diff --git a/frontend/src/index.css b/frontend/src/index.css
index 47e5696..5f6ad47 100644
--- a/frontend/src/index.css
+++ b/frontend/src/index.css
@@ -3,11 +3,40 @@
 
 @custom-variant dark (&:is(.dark *));
 
+/*
+ * Self-hosted font, duplicated verbatim across the fluksio and website repos (a
+ * sync point like `lib/motion.ts`; see the root DESIGN-GUIDELINES.md,
+ * Typography). Kept OUT of the byte-identical `@theme inline` / `:root` /
+ * `.dark` blocks. Inter is used for both body (set on `body` in `@layer base`)
+ * and the display face applied via the `.font-display` class below.
+ */
+@font-face {
+  font-family: "Inter";
+  font-style: normal;
+  font-weight: 100 900;
+  font-display: swap;
+  src: url("/fonts/inter-latin-variable.woff2") format("woff2");
+}
+
 @theme inline {
-  --radius-sm: calc(var(--radius) - 4px);
-  --radius-md: calc(var(--radius) - 2px);
-  --radius-lg: var(--radius);
-  --radius-xl: calc(var(--radius) + 4px);
+  --radius: 1rem; /* base: surface radius (16px) */
+  --radius-sm: 0.5rem; /* 8px: checkbox, small chips, nested items */
+  --radius-md: 0.75rem; /* 12px: menus, popovers, dropdowns, tooltips, textarea */
+  --radius-lg: 1rem; /* 16px: cards, panels, dialogs, alerts, sidebar */
+  --radius-xl: 1.75rem; /* 28px: large / hero containers */
+  /* Controls (button/input/toggle/chip) use the `rounded-full` utility (pill). */
+
+  /* Two-layer elevation: cards rest low (e1); floating surfaces e2; modals e3. */
+  --shadow-e1: 0 1px 2px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.06), 0 1px 3px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.1);
+  --shadow-e2: 0 2px 6px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.08), 0 4px 12px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.12);
+  --shadow-e3: 0 8px 24px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.18), 0 2px 8px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.12);
+
+  /* Shared motion timing, consumed by CSS transitions and the lib/motion.ts presets. */
+  --ease-emphasized: cubic-bezier(0.2, 0, 0, 1);
+  --ease-standard: cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1);
+  --duration-fast: 150ms;
+  --duration-base: 200ms;
+  --duration-slow: 300ms;
   --color-background: var(--background);
   --color-foreground: var(--foreground);
   --color-card: var(--card);
@@ -16,6 +45,8 @@
   --color-popover-foreground: var(--popover-foreground);
   --color-primary: var(--primary);
   --color-primary-foreground: var(--primary-foreground);
+  --color-brand-secondary: var(--brand-secondary);
+  --color-brand-secondary-foreground: var(--brand-secondary-foreground);
   --color-secondary: var(--secondary);
   --color-secondary-foreground: var(--secondary-foreground);
   --color-muted: var(--muted);
@@ -26,11 +57,6 @@
   --color-border: var(--border);
   --color-input: var(--input);
   --color-ring: var(--ring);
-  --color-chart-1: var(--chart-1);
-  --color-chart-2: var(--chart-2);
-  --color-chart-3: var(--chart-3);
-  --color-chart-4: var(--chart-4);
-  --color-chart-5: var(--chart-5);
   --color-sidebar: var(--sidebar);
   --color-sidebar-foreground: var(--sidebar-foreground);
   --color-sidebar-primary: var(--sidebar-primary);
@@ -41,73 +67,74 @@
   --color-sidebar-ring: var(--sidebar-ring);
 }
 
+/*
+ * Fluksio palette. Neutral surfaces, brand on controls only.
+ *
+ * `--primary` is #4a7189, not the identity blue #59849b: the latter measures
+ * 4.04:1 against white, below AA for the label sitting on a bg-primary fill.
+ * #59849b remains the wordmark colour (org/design/fluksio-*.svg). See the root
+ * DESIGN-GUIDELINES.md → Colour tokens.
+ */
 :root {
-  --radius: 0.625rem;
-  --background: oklch(1 0 0);
-  --foreground: oklch(0.145 0 0);
-  --card: oklch(1 0 0);
-  --card-foreground: oklch(0.145 0 0);
-  --popover: oklch(1 0 0);
-  --popover-foreground: oklch(0.145 0 0);
-  --primary: oklch(0.5982 0.10687 182.4689);
-  --primary-foreground: oklch(0.985 0 0);
-  --secondary: oklch(0.97 0 0);
-  --secondary-foreground: oklch(0.205 0 0);
-  --muted: oklch(0.97 0 0);
-  --muted-foreground: oklch(0.556 0 0);
-  --accent: oklch(0.97 0 0);
-  --accent-foreground: oklch(0.205 0 0);
-  --destructive: oklch(0.577 0.245 27.325);
-  --border: oklch(0.922 0 0);
-  --input: oklch(0.922 0 0);
-  --ring: oklch(0.708 0 0);
-  --chart-1: oklch(0.646 0.222 41.116);
-  --chart-2: oklch(0.6 0.118 184.704);
-  --chart-3: oklch(0.398 0.07 227.392);
-  --chart-4: oklch(0.828 0.189 84.429);
-  --chart-5: oklch(0.769 0.188 70.08);
-  --sidebar: oklch(0.985 0 0);
-  --sidebar-foreground: oklch(0.145 0 0);
-  --sidebar-primary: oklch(0.5982 0.10687 182.4689);
-  --sidebar-primary-foreground: oklch(0.985 0 0);
-  --sidebar-accent: oklch(0.97 0 0);
-  --sidebar-accent-foreground: oklch(0.205 0 0);
-  --sidebar-border: oklch(0.922 0 0);
-  --sidebar-ring: oklch(0.708 0 0);
+  --background: #ffffff;
+  --foreground: #333232;
+  --card: #ffffff;
+  --card-foreground: #333232;
+  --popover: #ffffff;
+  --popover-foreground: #333232;
+  --primary: #4a7189;
+  --primary-foreground: #ffffff;
+  --brand-secondary: #de8f6e;
+  --brand-secondary-foreground: #333232;
+  --secondary: #f2f2f2;
+  --secondary-foreground: #333232;
+  --muted: #f2f2f2;
+  --muted-foreground: #6b6b6b;
+  --accent: #f5f5f5;
+  --accent-foreground: #333232;
+  --destructive: #b94d4d;
+  --border: #e4e4e4;
+  --input: #e4e4e4;
+  --ring: #4a7189;
+  --sidebar: #ffffff;
+  --sidebar-foreground: #333232;
+  --sidebar-primary: #4a7189;
+  --sidebar-primary-foreground: #ffffff;
+  --sidebar-accent: #f5f5f5;
+  --sidebar-accent-foreground: #333232;
+  --sidebar-border: #e4e4e4;
+  --sidebar-ring: #4a7189;
 }
 
 .dark {
-  --background: oklch(0.145 0 0);
-  --foreground: oklch(0.985 0 0);
-  --card: oklch(0.205 0 0);
-  --card-foreground: oklch(0.985 0 0);
-  --popover: oklch(0.205 0 0);
-  --popover-foreground: oklch(0.985 0 0);
-  --primary: oklch(0.65 0.10687 182.4689);
-  --primary-foreground: oklch(0.985 0 0);
-  --secondary: oklch(0.269 0 0);
-  --secondary-foreground: oklch(0.985 0 0);
-  --muted: oklch(0.269 0 0);
-  --muted-foreground: oklch(0.708 0 0);
-  --accent: oklch(0.269 0 0);
-  --accent-foreground: oklch(0.985 0 0);
-  --destructive: oklch(0.704 0.191 22.216);
-  --border: oklch(1 0 0 / 10%);
-  --input: oklch(1 0 0 / 15%);
-  --ring: oklch(0.556 0 0);
-  --chart-1: oklch(0.488 0.243 264.376);
-  --chart-2: oklch(0.696 0.17 162.48);
-  --chart-3: oklch(0.769 0.188 70.08);
-  --chart-4: oklch(0.627 0.265 303.9);
-  --chart-5: oklch(0.645 0.246 16.439);
-  --sidebar: oklch(0.205 0 0);
-  --sidebar-foreground: oklch(0.985 0 0);
-  --sidebar-primary: oklch(0.65 0.10687 182.4689);
-  --sidebar-primary-foreground: oklch(0.985 0 0);
-  --sidebar-accent: oklch(0.269 0 0);
-  --sidebar-accent-foreground: oklch(0.985 0 0);
-  --sidebar-border: oklch(1 0 0 / 10%);
-  --sidebar-ring: oklch(0.556 0 0);
+  --background: #0a0a0a;
+  --foreground: #f5f5f5;
+  --card: #1a1a1a;
+  --card-foreground: #f5f5f5;
+  --popover: #1a1a1a;
+  --popover-foreground: #f5f5f5;
+  --primary: #7ba3b8;
+  --primary-foreground: #0a0a0a;
+  --brand-secondary: #e5a184;
+  --brand-secondary-foreground: #0a0a0a;
+  --secondary: #232323;
+  --secondary-foreground: #f5f5f5;
+  --muted: #232323;
+  --muted-foreground: #a3a3a3;
+  --accent: #262626;
+  --accent-foreground: #f5f5f5;
+  --destructive: #cf6666;
+  --border: #2a2a2a;
+  --input: #2a2a2a;
+  --ring: #7ba3b8;
+  --sidebar: #1a1a1a;
+  --sidebar-foreground: #f5f5f5;
+  --sidebar-primary: #7ba3b8;
+  --sidebar-primary-foreground: #0a0a0a;
+  --sidebar-accent: #262626;
+  --sidebar-accent-foreground: #f5f5f5;
+  --sidebar-border: #2a2a2a;
+  --sidebar-ring: #7ba3b8;
 }
 
 @layer base {
@@ -115,10 +142,18 @@
     @apply border-border outline-ring/50;
   }
   body {
-    @apply bg-background text-foreground;
+    @apply bg-background text-foreground antialiased;
+    font-family: "Inter", "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;
   }
   button,
   [role="button"] {
     cursor: pointer;
   }
 }
+
+/* Display face for headings / wordmarks. Plain class so it stays outside the
+   byte-identical token blocks; falls back to the body stack. */
+.font-display {
+  font-family: "Inter", "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;
+  letter-spacing: -0.01em;
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/motion.ts b/frontend/src/lib/motion.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bcdf24e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/motion.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+/**
+ * Shared motion presets (Fluksio design system).
+ *
+ * Pure data: variants and transitions consumed by `motion/react` components
+ * across the app. Mirrors the `--ease-*` / `--duration-*` timing tokens defined
+ * in `index.css`, so CSS transitions and JS animations stay in sync.
+ *
+ * This file is duplicated verbatim in `fluksio` and `website` (the shadcn model,
+ * see ../../DESIGN.md / the root DESIGN-GUIDELINES.md). Keep the two copies
+ * identical; `make design-check` at the workspace root verifies it.
+ *
+ * Reduced motion: wrap each app root in `<MotionConfig reducedMotion="user">` so
+ * transform/layout animations are disabled automatically when the OS requests it.
+ */
+import type { Transition, Variants } from "motion/react"
+
+/** Easing curves, mirroring the `--ease-*` tokens. */
+export const easeEmphasized: [number, number, number, number] = [0.2, 0, 0, 1]
+export const easeStandard: [number, number, number, number] = [0.4, 0, 0.2, 1]
+
+/** Durations in seconds, mirroring the `--duration-*` tokens (ms). */
+export const duration = { fast: 0.15, base: 0.2, slow: 0.3 } as const
+
+export const transitions = {
+  /** Enter / expressive moves (decelerate). */
+  emphasized: { duration: duration.base, ease: easeEmphasized },
+  /** Neutral state changes. */
+  standard: { duration: duration.base, ease: easeStandard },
+  /** Springy, for hover tilt / direct-manipulation feedback. */
+  spring: { type: "spring", stiffness: 250, damping: 20, mass: 0.5 },
+} satisfies Record<string, Transition>
+
+const exitFast: Transition = { duration: duration.fast, ease: easeStandard }
+
+/** Opacity fade. */
+export const fadeIn: Variants = {
+  hidden: { opacity: 0 },
+  visible: { opacity: 1, transition: transitions.standard },
+  exit: { opacity: 0, transition: exitFast },
+}
+
+/** Fade + subtle scale: popovers, dialogs, floating panels. */
+export const scaleIn: Variants = {
+  hidden: { opacity: 0, scale: 0.96 },
+  visible: { opacity: 1, scale: 1, transition: transitions.emphasized },
+  exit: { opacity: 0, scale: 0.96, transition: exitFast },
+}
+
+/** Fade + rise: list/grid items, toolbars, content blocks. */
+export const slideUp: Variants = {
+  hidden: { opacity: 0, y: 8 },
+  visible: { opacity: 1, y: 0, transition: transitions.emphasized },
+  exit: { opacity: 0, y: 8, transition: exitFast },
+}
+
+/** Dialog / drawer scrim. */
+export const overlayFade: Variants = {
+  hidden: { opacity: 0 },
+  visible: { opacity: 1, transition: exitFast },
+  exit: { opacity: 0, transition: exitFast },
+}
+
+/**
+ * Stagger container for lists/grids. Children animate with `slideUp` / `fadeIn`
+ * via `variants` inheritance (set the same `initial`/`animate` state names).
+ */
+export const listStagger: Variants = {
+  hidden: {},
+  visible: { transition: { staggerChildren: 0.05, delayChildren: 0.02 } },
+}