diff --git a/web/README.md b/web/README.md
index d8127f96e0..1e533834ff 100644
--- a/web/README.md
+++ b/web/README.md
@@ -46,3 +46,43 @@ src/
 ├── main.tsx         # React entry point
 └── index.css        # Tailwind imports and theme variables
 ```
+
+## Typography & contrast rules
+
+Read before adding or editing UI styles. These rules keep the dashboard legible across all built-in themes and stop drift back into the patterns the design system was just refactored out of.
+
+### Text size floor
+
+- **Minimum body size: `text-xs` (12px / 0.75rem).** Do not use arbitrary `text-[0.6rem]`, `text-[0.65rem]`, `text-[9px]`, `text-[10px]`, or `text-[11px]` on copy, hints, labels, counts, or badges. Use the standard scale: `text-xs`, `text-sm`, `text-base`.
+- Smaller sizes are only acceptable on **decorative overlays** (chart stripes, empty-state icons) — never on text the user is meant to read.
+
+### Opacity floor on text
+
+- **Never apply opacity below 0.7 to text.** No `opacity-30`, `opacity-50`, `opacity-60` on `<span>`s, `<p>`s, labels, etc.
+- **Do not stack opacity tokens.** Patterns like `text-muted-foreground/60`, `text-midground/70`, `text-foreground/50` create unpredictable WCAG failures because the parent token already has alpha.
+- Use the **semantic text tokens** from `@nous-research/ui`'s `globals.css`:
+  - `text-text-primary` — default body text.
+  - `text-text-secondary` — subtitles, meta, inactive nav.
+  - `text-text-tertiary` — small chrome labels, counts, footnotes.
+  - `text-text-disabled` — disabled states.
+  - `text-text-on-accent` — text on filled accent surfaces.
+
+### Brand uppercase via `text-display`, never `uppercase`
+
+- The dashboard preserves the Nous brand uppercase aesthetic, but it is **opt-in per element, not global**.
+- Apply uppercase via the DS utility `text-display` on **brand chrome only** — page titles, nav section headings, badges, brand wordmark. DS components (`Button`, `Badge`, `Tabs`, `Segmented`, etc.) already self-apply `text-display`.
+- **Do not** add `uppercase` (the literal Tailwind class) anywhere in `hermes-agent/web/src`.
+- **Do not** add `normal-case` to "opt out" of inheritance — the app shell no longer forces uppercase, so opt-outs aren't needed. The only legitimate `normal-case` overrides are on DS `<Button>` instances that display **dynamic, user-typed content** (model slugs, theme names, language names, profile names).
+
+### Fonts
+
+- `font-mondwest` is the brand display font. Apply it explicitly only on brand chrome (paired with `text-display`).
+- Body content inherits the active theme's `--theme-font-sans`. Do not hardcode `font-mondwest` on body text or pages — it locks out per-theme typography.
+- Code/terminal text uses `font-mono` / `font-mono-ui` (both resolve through `--theme-font-mono`).
+
+### Color tokens
+
+- Prefer **semantic tokens** (`text-text-*`, `bg-card`, `border-border`, `text-foreground`, `text-destructive`, `text-success`, `text-warning`) over raw layer references (`text-midground`, `text-foreground`).
+- `text-muted-foreground` is now wired to `--color-text-secondary`, so existing call sites stay correct, but new code should prefer the semantic name.
+- When you genuinely need a non-token color (icon de-emphasis on a chart, terminal foreground via inline style), keep alpha at `≥ 0.7` for any text.
+
diff --git a/web/package.json b/web/package.json
index b8608499f8..eec9b112b5 100644
--- a/web/package.json
+++ b/web/package.json
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
     "preview": "vite preview"
   },
   "dependencies": {
-    "@nous-research/ui": "0.14.0",
+    "@nous-research/ui": "0.16.0",
     "@observablehq/plot": "^0.6.17",
     "@react-three/fiber": "^9.6.0",
     "@tailwindcss/vite": "^4.2.1",
diff --git a/web/src/App.tsx b/web/src/App.tsx
index 987252ce0b..350ca325c7 100644
--- a/web/src/App.tsx
+++ b/web/src/App.tsx
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ export default function App() {
   return (
     <div
       data-layout-variant={layoutVariant}
-      className="font-mondwest flex h-dvh max-h-dvh min-h-0 flex-col overflow-hidden bg-black uppercase text-midground antialiased"
+      className="flex h-dvh max-h-dvh min-h-0 flex-col overflow-hidden bg-black text-text-primary antialiased"
     >
       <SelectionSwitcher />
       <Backdrop />
@@ -442,13 +442,13 @@ export default function App() {
           aria-label={t.app.openNavigation}
           aria-expanded={mobileOpen}
           aria-controls="app-sidebar"
-          className="text-midground/70 hover:text-midground"
+          className="text-text-secondary hover:text-midground"
         >
           <Menu />
         </Button>
 
         <Typography
-          className="font-bold text-[0.95rem] leading-[0.95] tracking-[0.05em] text-midground"
+          className="text-display font-bold text-[0.95rem] leading-[0.95] tracking-[0.05em] text-midground"
           style={{ mixBlendMode: "plus-lighter" }}
         >
           {t.app.brand}
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ export default function App() {
                 <PluginSlot name="header-left" />
 
                 <Typography
-                  className="font-bold text-[1.125rem] leading-[0.95] tracking-[0.0525rem] text-midground"
+                  className="text-display font-bold text-[1.125rem] leading-[0.95] tracking-[0.0525rem] text-midground"
                   style={{ mixBlendMode: "plus-lighter" }}
                 >
                   Hermes
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ export default function App() {
                 size="icon"
                 onClick={closeMobile}
                 aria-label={t.app.closeNavigation}
-                className="lg:hidden text-midground/70 hover:text-midground"
+                className="lg:hidden text-text-secondary hover:text-midground"
               >
                 <X />
               </Button>
@@ -542,7 +542,7 @@ export default function App() {
                   <span
                     className={cn(
                       "px-5 pt-2.5 pb-1",
-                      "font-mondwest text-[0.6rem] tracking-[0.15em] uppercase opacity-30",
+                      "font-mondwest text-display text-xs tracking-[0.12em] text-text-tertiary",
                     )}
                     id="hermes-sidebar-plugin-nav-heading"
                   >
@@ -671,10 +671,10 @@ function SidebarNavLink({ closeMobile, item, t }: SidebarNavLinkProps) {
           cn(
             "group relative flex items-center gap-3",
             "px-5 py-2.5",
-            "font-mondwest text-[0.8rem] tracking-[0.12em]",
+            "font-mondwest text-display text-sm tracking-[0.12em]",
             "whitespace-nowrap transition-colors cursor-pointer",
             "focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-1 focus-visible:ring-midground",
-            isActive ? "text-midground" : "opacity-60 hover:opacity-100",
+            isActive ? "text-midground" : "text-text-secondary hover:text-midground",
           )
         }
         style={{
@@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ function SidebarSystemActions({ onNavigate }: { onNavigate: () => void }) {
       <span
         className={cn(
           "px-5 pt-0.5 pb-0.5",
-          "font-mondwest text-[0.6rem] tracking-[0.15em] uppercase opacity-30",
+          "font-mondwest text-display text-xs tracking-[0.12em] text-text-tertiary",
         )}
       >
         {t.app.system}
@@ -772,12 +772,12 @@ function SidebarSystemActions({ onNavigate }: { onNavigate: () => void }) {
                 active={busy}
                 className={cn(
                   "gap-3 px-5 py-1.5 whitespace-nowrap",
-                  "font-mondwest text-[0.75rem] tracking-[0.1em]",
-                  "transition-opacity",
+                  "font-mondwest text-display text-xs tracking-[0.1em]",
+                  "transition-colors",
                   busy
-                    ? "text-midground opacity-100"
-                    : "opacity-60 hover:opacity-100",
-                  "disabled:opacity-30",
+                    ? "text-midground"
+                    : "text-text-secondary hover:text-midground",
+                  "disabled:text-text-disabled",
                 )}
               >
                 {isPending ? (
diff --git a/web/src/components/AutoField.tsx b/web/src/components/AutoField.tsx
index 0f96d42042..4e3451c10f 100644
--- a/web/src/components/AutoField.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/AutoField.tsx
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ function FieldHint({ schema, schemaKey }: { schema: Record<string, unknown>; sch
 
   return (
     <div className="flex flex-col gap-0.5">
-      {keyPath && <span className="text-[10px] font-mono text-muted-foreground/50">{keyPath}</span>}
-      {description && <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground/70">{description}</span>}
+      {keyPath && <span className="text-xs font-mono text-text-tertiary">{keyPath}</span>}
+      {description && <span className="text-xs text-text-secondary">{description}</span>}
     </div>
   );
 }
diff --git a/web/src/components/BottomPickSheet.tsx b/web/src/components/BottomPickSheet.tsx
index 1490f4090c..459857eada 100644
--- a/web/src/components/BottomPickSheet.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/BottomPickSheet.tsx
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ export function BottomPickSheet({
 
           <Typography
             mondwest
-            className="text-[0.65rem] tracking-[0.15em] uppercase text-midground/70"
+            className="text-display text-xs tracking-[0.12em] text-text-tertiary"
           >
             {title}
           </Typography>
diff --git a/web/src/components/ChatSidebar.tsx b/web/src/components/ChatSidebar.tsx
index c311673faf..a115d887ec 100644
--- a/web/src/components/ChatSidebar.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/ChatSidebar.tsx
@@ -304,13 +304,13 @@ export function ChatSidebar({ channel, className }: ChatSidebarProps) {
   return (
     <aside
       className={cn(
-        "flex h-full w-full min-w-0 shrink-0 flex-col gap-3 overflow-y-auto overflow-x-hidden pr-1 normal-case lg:w-80",
+        "flex h-full w-full min-w-0 shrink-0 flex-col gap-3 overflow-y-auto overflow-x-hidden pr-1 lg:w-80",
         className,
       )}
     >
       <Card className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2 px-3 py-2">
         <div className="min-w-0">
-          <div className="text-xs uppercase tracking-wider text-muted-foreground">
+          <div className="text-display text-xs tracking-wider text-text-tertiary">
             model
           </div>
 
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ export function ChatSidebar({ channel, className }: ChatSidebarProps) {
             onClick={() => setModelOpen(true)}
             suffix={
               canPickModel ? (
-                <ChevronDown className="opacity-60" />
+                <ChevronDown className="text-text-secondary" />
               ) : undefined
             }
             className="self-start min-w-0 px-0 py-0 normal-case tracking-normal text-sm font-medium hover:underline disabled:no-underline"
@@ -357,13 +357,13 @@ export function ChatSidebar({ channel, className }: ChatSidebarProps) {
       )}
 
       <Card className="flex min-h-0 flex-none flex-col px-2 py-2">
-        <div className="px-1 pb-2 text-xs uppercase tracking-wider text-muted-foreground">
+        <div className="text-display px-1 pb-2 text-xs tracking-wider text-text-tertiary">
           tools
         </div>
 
         <div className="flex min-h-0 flex-col gap-1.5">
           {tools.length === 0 ? (
-            <div className="px-2 py-4 text-center text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+            <div className="px-2 py-4 text-center text-xs text-text-secondary">
               no tool calls yet
             </div>
           ) : (
diff --git a/web/src/components/LanguageSwitcher.tsx b/web/src/components/LanguageSwitcher.tsx
index b56f604b1b..3176f33da4 100644
--- a/web/src/components/LanguageSwitcher.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/LanguageSwitcher.tsx
@@ -68,13 +68,13 @@ export function LanguageSwitcher({ dropUp = false }: LanguageSwitcherProps) {
         aria-label={t.language.switchTo}
         aria-haspopup="listbox"
         aria-expanded={open}
-        className="px-2 py-1 normal-case tracking-normal font-normal text-xs text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground"
+        className="px-2 py-1 normal-case tracking-normal font-normal text-xs text-text-secondary hover:text-foreground"
       >
         <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5">
           <LocaleFlagIcon countryCode={current.flagCountryCode} />
           <Typography
             mondwest
-            className="hidden sm:inline tracking-wide uppercase text-[0.65rem]"
+            className="hidden sm:inline text-display tracking-wide text-xs"
           >
             {locale === "en" ? "EN" : current.name}
           </Typography>
diff --git a/web/src/components/ModelInfoCard.tsx b/web/src/components/ModelInfoCard.tsx
index 39410f3baf..81397189f3 100644
--- a/web/src/components/ModelInfoCard.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/ModelInfoCard.tsx
@@ -60,11 +60,11 @@ export function ModelInfoCard({
             {formatTokenCount(info.effective_context_length)}
           </span>
           {info.config_context_length > 0 ? (
-            <span className="text-amber-500/80 text-[10px]">
+            <span className="text-amber-500 text-xs">
               (override — auto: {formatTokenCount(info.auto_context_length)})
             </span>
           ) : (
-            <span className="text-muted-foreground/60 text-[10px]">
+            <span className="text-text-tertiary text-xs">
               auto-detected
             </span>
           )}
@@ -86,22 +86,22 @@ export function ModelInfoCard({
       {hasCaps && (
         <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-1.5 pt-0.5">
           {caps.supports_tools && (
-            <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 bg-emerald-500/10 px-2 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-medium text-emerald-600 dark:text-emerald-400">
+            <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 bg-emerald-500/10 px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium text-emerald-600 dark:text-emerald-400">
               <Wrench className="h-2.5 w-2.5" /> Tools
             </span>
           )}
           {caps.supports_vision && (
-            <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 bg-blue-500/10 px-2 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-medium text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-400">
+            <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 bg-blue-500/10 px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-400">
               <Eye className="h-2.5 w-2.5" /> Vision
             </span>
           )}
           {caps.supports_reasoning && (
-            <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 bg-purple-500/10 px-2 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-medium text-purple-600 dark:text-purple-400">
+            <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 bg-purple-500/10 px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium text-purple-600 dark:text-purple-400">
               <Brain className="h-2.5 w-2.5" /> Reasoning
             </span>
           )}
           {caps.model_family && (
-            <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 bg-muted px-2 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-medium text-muted-foreground">
+            <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 bg-muted px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium text-text-secondary">
               {caps.model_family}
             </span>
           )}
diff --git a/web/src/components/ModelPickerDialog.tsx b/web/src/components/ModelPickerDialog.tsx
index 22b2cb1bce..41d578dd89 100644
--- a/web/src/components/ModelPickerDialog.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/ModelPickerDialog.tsx
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ function ProviderColumn({
                 <span className="font-medium truncate">{p.name}</span>
                 {p.is_current && <CurrentTag />}
               </div>
-              <div className="text-[0.65rem] text-muted-foreground/80 font-mono truncate">
+              <div className="text-xs text-text-secondary font-mono truncate">
                 {p.slug} · {p.total_models ?? p.models?.length ?? 0} models
               </div>
             </div>
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@ function ModelColumn({
 
 function CurrentTag() {
   return (
-    <span className="text-[0.6rem] uppercase tracking-wider text-primary/80 shrink-0">
+    <span className="text-display text-xs tracking-wider text-primary shrink-0">
       current
     </span>
   );
diff --git a/web/src/components/OAuthProvidersCard.tsx b/web/src/components/OAuthProvidersCard.tsx
index 987f4c0eee..fcb3a50199 100644
--- a/web/src/components/OAuthProvidersCard.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/OAuthProvidersCard.tsx
@@ -154,32 +154,32 @@ export function OAuthProvidersCard({ onError, onSuccess }: Props) {
                       <span className="font-medium text-sm">{p.name}</span>
                       <Badge
                         tone="outline"
-                        className="text-[11px] uppercase tracking-wide"
+                        className="text-xs tracking-wide"
                       >
                         {t.oauth.flowLabels[p.flow]}
                       </Badge>
                       {p.status.logged_in && (
-                        <Badge tone="success" className="text-[11px]">
+                        <Badge tone="success" className="text-xs">
                           {t.oauth.connected}
                         </Badge>
                       )}
                       {expiresLabel === "expired" && (
-                        <Badge tone="destructive" className="text-[11px]">
+                        <Badge tone="destructive" className="text-xs">
                           {t.oauth.expired}
                         </Badge>
                       )}
                       {expiresLabel && expiresLabel !== "expired" && (
-                        <Badge tone="outline" className="text-[11px]">
+                        <Badge tone="outline" className="text-xs">
                           {expiresLabel}
                         </Badge>
                       )}
                     </div>
                     {p.status.logged_in && p.status.token_preview && (
                       <code className="text-xs font-mono-ui truncate">
-                        <span className="opacity-50">token </span>
+                        <span className="text-text-tertiary">token </span>
                         {p.status.token_preview}
                         {p.status.source_label && (
-                          <span className="opacity-40">
+                          <span className="text-text-tertiary">
                             {" "}
                             · {p.status.source_label}
                           </span>
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ export function OAuthProvidersCard({ onError, onSuccess }: Props) {
                       </code>
                     )}
                     {!p.status.logged_in && (
-                      <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground/80">
+                      <span className="text-xs text-text-secondary">
                         {t.oauth.notConnected.split("{command}")[0]}
                         <code className="text-foreground bg-secondary/40 px-1">
                           {p.cli_command}
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ export function OAuthProvidersCard({ onError, onSuccess }: Props) {
                     </Button>
                   )}
                   {p.status.logged_in && p.flow === "external" && (
-                    <span className="text-[11px] text-muted-foreground italic px-2">
+                    <span className="text-xs text-text-tertiary italic px-2">
                       <Terminal className="h-3 w-3 inline mr-0.5" />
                       {t.oauth.managedExternally}
                     </span>
diff --git a/web/src/components/SidebarFooter.tsx b/web/src/components/SidebarFooter.tsx
index c1810f10e0..b47f64072c 100644
--- a/web/src/components/SidebarFooter.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/SidebarFooter.tsx
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ export function SidebarFooter() {
     >
       <Typography
         mondwest
-        className="font-mono-ui text-[0.7rem] tabular-nums tracking-[0.1em] text-muted-foreground/70 lowercase"
+        className="font-mono-ui text-xs tabular-nums tracking-[0.08em] text-text-tertiary lowercase"
       >
         {status?.version != null ? `v${status.version}` : "—"}
       </Typography>
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export function SidebarFooter() {
         target="_blank"
         rel="noopener noreferrer"
         className={cn(
-          "font-mondwest text-[0.65rem] tracking-[0.15em] text-midground",
+          "font-mondwest text-display text-xs tracking-[0.12em] text-midground",
           "transition-opacity hover:opacity-90",
           "focus-visible:rounded-sm focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-1 focus-visible:ring-midground/40",
         )}
diff --git a/web/src/components/SidebarStatusStrip.tsx b/web/src/components/SidebarStatusStrip.tsx
index b96603cec4..6556f492c2 100644
--- a/web/src/components/SidebarStatusStrip.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/SidebarStatusStrip.tsx
@@ -27,21 +27,21 @@ export function SidebarStatusStrip() {
       className={cn(
         "block text-left",
         "px-5 pb-2 pt-0.5",
-        "text-muted-foreground/70",
-        "transition-colors hover:text-muted-foreground/90",
+        "text-text-secondary",
+        "transition-colors hover:text-midground",
         "focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-1 focus-visible:ring-midground/40",
         "focus-visible:ring-inset",
       )}
     >
-      <div className="flex flex-col gap-1 font-mondwest text-[0.55rem] leading-snug tracking-[0.12em]">
+      <div className="flex flex-col gap-1 font-mondwest text-xs leading-snug tracking-[0.08em]">
         <p className="break-words">
-          <span className="text-muted-foreground/50">{gatewayStatusLabel}</span>{" "}
+          <span className="text-text-tertiary">{gatewayStatusLabel}</span>{" "}
           <span className={cn("font-medium", gw.tone)}>{gw.label}</span>
         </p>
 
         <p className="break-words">
-          <span className="text-muted-foreground/50">{activeSessionsLabel}</span>{" "}
-          <span className="tabular-nums text-muted-foreground/70">
+          <span className="text-text-tertiary">{activeSessionsLabel}</span>{" "}
+          <span className="tabular-nums text-text-secondary">
             {status.active_sessions}
           </span>
         </p>
diff --git a/web/src/components/SlashPopover.tsx b/web/src/components/SlashPopover.tsx
index 418b040905..e7198671bc 100644
--- a/web/src/components/SlashPopover.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/SlashPopover.tsx
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ export const SlashPopover = forwardRef<SlashPopoverHandle, Props>(
               </span>
 
               {it.meta && (
-                <span className="text-[0.7rem] text-muted-foreground/70 truncate ml-auto">
+                <span className="text-xs text-text-tertiary truncate ml-auto">
                   {it.meta}
                 </span>
               )}
diff --git a/web/src/components/ThemeSwitcher.tsx b/web/src/components/ThemeSwitcher.tsx
index 17e0ae3d6d..f1359dd442 100644
--- a/web/src/components/ThemeSwitcher.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/ThemeSwitcher.tsx
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ export function ThemeSwitcher({ dropUp = false }: ThemeSwitcherProps) {
       <Button
         ghost
         onClick={() => setOpen((o) => !o)}
-        className="px-2 py-1 normal-case tracking-normal font-normal text-xs text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground"
+        className="px-2 py-1 normal-case tracking-normal font-normal text-xs text-text-secondary hover:text-foreground"
         title={t.theme?.switchTheme ?? "Switch theme"}
         aria-label={t.theme?.switchTheme ?? "Switch theme"}
         aria-expanded={open}
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ export function ThemeSwitcher({ dropUp = false }: ThemeSwitcherProps) {
 
           <Typography
             mondwest
-            className="hidden sm:inline tracking-wide uppercase text-[0.65rem]"
+            className="hidden sm:inline text-display tracking-wide text-xs"
           >
             {label}
           </Typography>
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ export function ThemeSwitcher({ dropUp = false }: ThemeSwitcherProps) {
           <div className="border-b border-current/20 px-3 py-2">
             <Typography
               mondwest
-              className="text-[0.65rem] tracking-[0.15em] uppercase text-midground/70"
+              className="text-display text-xs tracking-[0.12em] text-text-tertiary"
             >
               {sheetTitle}
             </Typography>
@@ -166,12 +166,12 @@ function ThemeSwitcherOptions({
             <div className="flex min-w-0 flex-1 flex-col gap-0.5">
               <Typography
                 mondwest
-                className="truncate text-[0.75rem] tracking-wide uppercase"
+                className="truncate text-display text-xs tracking-wide"
               >
                 {th.label}
               </Typography>
               {th.description && (
-                <Typography className="truncate text-[0.65rem] normal-case tracking-normal text-midground/50">
+                <Typography className="truncate text-xs tracking-normal text-text-tertiary">
                   {th.description}
                 </Typography>
               )}
diff --git a/web/src/components/ToolCall.tsx b/web/src/components/ToolCall.tsx
index 8e465fa67c..540134adda 100644
--- a/web/src/components/ToolCall.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/ToolCall.tsx
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ export function ToolCall({ tool }: { tool: ToolEntry }) {
 
         <span className="font-mono font-medium shrink-0">{tool.name}</span>
 
-        <span className="font-mono text-muted-foreground/80 truncate min-w-0 flex-1">
+        <span className="font-mono text-text-secondary truncate min-w-0 flex-1">
           {tool.context ?? ""}
         </span>
 
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ export function ToolCall({ tool }: { tool: ToolEntry }) {
         )}
 
         {elapsed && (
-          <span className="font-mono text-[0.65rem] text-muted-foreground tabular-nums shrink-0">
+          <span className="font-mono text-xs text-text-tertiary tabular-nums shrink-0">
             {elapsed}
           </span>
         )}
@@ -186,8 +186,8 @@ function Section({
   return (
     <div className="flex gap-3">
       <span
-        className={`uppercase tracking-wider text-[0.6rem] shrink-0 w-14 pt-0.5 ${
-          tone === "error" ? "text-destructive/80" : "text-muted-foreground/60"
+        className={`text-display tracking-wider text-xs shrink-0 w-14 pt-0.5 ${
+          tone === "error" ? "text-destructive" : "text-text-tertiary"
         }`}
       >
         {label}
@@ -224,5 +224,5 @@ function diffLineClass(line: string): string {
   if (line.startsWith("-") && !line.startsWith("---"))
     return "text-destructive";
   if (line.startsWith("@@")) return "text-primary";
-  return "text-muted-foreground/80";
+  return "text-text-secondary";
 }
diff --git a/web/src/index.css b/web/src/index.css
index e9818174e0..bb6ff19b72 100644
--- a/web/src/index.css
+++ b/web/src/index.css
@@ -139,7 +139,11 @@ code { font-size: 0.875rem; }
   --color-secondary: color-mix(in srgb, var(--midground-base) 6%, var(--background-base));
   --color-secondary-foreground: var(--midground);
   --color-muted: color-mix(in srgb, var(--midground-base) 8%, var(--background-base));
-  --color-muted-foreground: color-mix(in srgb, var(--midground-base) 55%, transparent);
+  /* Routes the shadcn `muted-foreground` slot through the DS semantic
+     text-secondary token (defaults to midground 80%) so legacy call
+     sites that use `text-muted-foreground` get a readable color
+     instead of the old 55%-transparent default. */
+  --color-muted-foreground: var(--color-text-secondary);
   --color-accent: color-mix(in srgb, var(--midground-base) 10%, var(--background-base));
   --color-accent-foreground: var(--midground);
   --color-destructive: #fb2c36;
diff --git a/web/src/pages/AnalyticsPage.tsx b/web/src/pages/AnalyticsPage.tsx
index c97af1deed..96e23b799a 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/AnalyticsPage.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/AnalyticsPage.tsx
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ function SortHeader({
             <ArrowDown className="h-3.5 w-3.5 text-foreground/80 shrink-0" />
           )
         ) : (
-          <ArrowUpDown className="h-3 w-3 text-muted-foreground/40 shrink-0" />
+          <ArrowUpDown className="h-3 w-3 text-text-tertiary shrink-0" />
         )}
       </span>
     </th>
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ function TokenBarChart({ daily }: { daily: AnalyticsDailyEntry[] }) {
                 style={{ height: CHART_HEIGHT_PX }}
               >
                 <div className="absolute bottom-full left-1/2 -translate-x-1/2 mb-2 hidden group-hover:block z-10 pointer-events-none">
-                  <div className="bg-card border border-border px-2.5 py-1.5 text-[10px] text-foreground shadow-lg whitespace-nowrap">
+                  <div className="bg-card border border-border px-2.5 py-1.5 text-xs text-foreground shadow-lg whitespace-nowrap">
                     <div className="font-medium">{formatDate(d.day)}</div>
                     <div>
                       {t.analytics.input}: {formatTokens(d.input_tokens)}
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ function TokenBarChart({ daily }: { daily: AnalyticsDailyEntry[] }) {
           })}
         </div>
 
-        <div className="flex justify-between mt-2 text-[10px] text-muted-foreground">
+        <div className="flex justify-between mt-2 text-xs text-text-tertiary">
           <span>{daily.length > 0 ? formatDate(daily[0].day) : ""}</span>
           {daily.length > 2 && (
             <span>{formatDate(daily[Math.floor(daily.length / 2)].day)}</span>
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ export default function AnalyticsPage() {
     setAfterTitle(
       <span className="flex items-center gap-2">
         {loading && <Spinner className="shrink-0 text-base text-primary" />}
-        <Badge tone="secondary" className="text-[10px]">
+        <Badge tone="secondary" className="text-xs">
           {periodLabel}
         </Badge>
       </span>,
@@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ export default function AnalyticsPage() {
               <div className="flex flex-col items-center text-muted-foreground">
                 <BarChart3 className="h-8 w-8 mb-3 opacity-40" />
                 <p className="text-sm font-medium">{t.analytics.noUsageData}</p>
-                <p className="text-xs mt-1 text-muted-foreground/60">
+                <p className="text-xs mt-1 text-text-tertiary">
                   {t.analytics.startSession}
                 </p>
               </div>
diff --git a/web/src/pages/ChatPage.tsx b/web/src/pages/ChatPage.tsx
index d257531f23..43727288b8 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/ChatPage.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/ChatPage.tsx
@@ -233,8 +233,8 @@ export default function ChatPage({ isActive = true }: { isActive?: boolean }) {
         aria-controls="chat-side-panel"
         className={cn(
           "shrink-0 rounded border border-current/20",
-          "px-2 py-1 text-[0.65rem] font-medium tracking-wide normal-case",
-          "text-midground/80 hover:text-midground hover:bg-midground/5",
+          "px-2 py-1 text-xs font-medium tracking-wide",
+          "text-text-secondary hover:text-midground hover:bg-midground/5",
         )}
       >
         <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5">
@@ -708,9 +708,6 @@ export default function ChatPage({ isActive = true }: { isActive?: boolean }) {
   //     model badge, tool-call list, model picker. Best-effort: if the
   //     sidecar fails to connect the terminal pane keeps working.
   //
-  // `normal-case` opts out of the dashboard's global `uppercase` rule on
-  // the root `<div>` in App.tsx — terminal output must preserve case.
-  //
   // Mobile model/tools sheet is portaled to `document.body` so it stacks
   // above the app sidebar (`z-50`) and mobile chrome (`z-40`).  The main
   // dashboard column uses `relative z-2`, which traps `position:fixed`
@@ -769,7 +766,7 @@ export default function ChatPage({ isActive = true }: { isActive?: boolean }) {
               size="icon"
               onClick={closeMobilePanel}
               aria-label={t.app.closeModelTools}
-              className="text-midground/70 hover:text-midground"
+              className="text-text-secondary hover:text-midground"
             >
               <X />
             </Button>
@@ -789,7 +786,7 @@ export default function ChatPage({ isActive = true }: { isActive?: boolean }) {
     );
 
   return (
-    <div className="flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col gap-2 normal-case">
+    <div className="flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col gap-2">
       <PluginSlot name="chat:top" />
       {mobileModelToolsPortal}
 
@@ -824,9 +821,9 @@ export default function ChatPage({ isActive = true }: { isActive?: boolean }) {
               "absolute z-10",
               "rounded border border-current/30",
               "bg-black/20 backdrop-blur-sm",
-              "opacity-60 hover:opacity-100 hover:border-current/60",
-              "transition-opacity duration-150 normal-case font-normal tracking-normal",
-              "bottom-2 right-2 px-2 py-1 text-[0.65rem] sm:bottom-3 sm:right-3 sm:px-2.5 sm:py-1.5 sm:text-xs",
+              "opacity-70 hover:opacity-100 hover:border-current/60",
+              "transition-opacity duration-150",
+              "bottom-2 right-2 px-2 py-1 text-xs sm:bottom-3 sm:right-3 sm:px-2.5 sm:py-1.5",
               "lg:bottom-4 lg:right-4",
             )}
             style={{ color: TERMINAL_THEME.foreground }}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/ConfigPage.tsx b/web/src/pages/ConfigPage.tsx
index d24dbd1fd9..7d898055ef 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/ConfigPage.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/ConfigPage.tsx
@@ -534,13 +534,13 @@ export default function ConfigPage() {
             <div className="sm:sticky sm:top-4">
               <div className="flex flex-col border border-border bg-muted/20">
                 <div className="hidden sm:flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-2 border-b border-border">
-                  <Filter className="h-3 w-3 text-muted-foreground" />
-                  <span className="font-mondwest text-[0.65rem] tracking-[0.12em] uppercase text-muted-foreground">
+                  <Filter className="h-3 w-3 text-text-tertiary" />
+                  <span className="font-mondwest text-display text-xs tracking-[0.12em] text-text-secondary">
                     {t.config.filters}
                   </span>
                 </div>
 
-                <div className="hidden sm:block px-3 pt-2 pb-1 font-mondwest text-[0.6rem] tracking-[0.12em] uppercase text-muted-foreground/70">
+                <div className="hidden sm:block px-3 pt-2 pb-1 font-mondwest text-display text-xs tracking-[0.12em] text-text-tertiary">
                   {t.config.sections}
                 </div>
 
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ export default function ConfigPage() {
                           setSearchQuery("");
                           setActiveCategory(cat);
                         }}
-                        className="rounded-sm whitespace-nowrap px-2 py-1 text-[11px]"
+                        className="rounded-sm whitespace-nowrap px-2 py-1 text-xs"
                       >
                         <CategoryIcon
                           category={cat}
@@ -566,10 +566,10 @@ export default function ConfigPage() {
                           {prettyCategoryName(cat)}
                         </span>
                         <span
-                          className={`text-[10px] tabular-nums ${
+                          className={`text-xs tabular-nums ${
                             isActive
-                              ? "text-foreground/60"
-                              : "text-muted-foreground/50"
+                              ? "text-text-secondary"
+                              : "text-text-tertiary"
                           }`}
                         >
                           {categoryCounts[cat] || 0}
@@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ export default function ConfigPage() {
                       <Search className="h-4 w-4" />
                       {t.config.searchResults}
                     </CardTitle>
-                    <Badge tone="secondary" className="text-[10px]">
+                    <Badge tone="secondary" className="text-xs">
                       {searchMatchedFields.length}{" "}
                       {t.config.fields.replace(
                         "{s}",
@@ -622,7 +622,7 @@ export default function ConfigPage() {
                       />
                       {prettyCategoryName(activeCategory)}
                     </CardTitle>
-                    <Badge tone="secondary" className="text-[10px]">
+                    <Badge tone="secondary" className="text-xs">
                       {activeFields.length}{" "}
                       {t.config.fields.replace(
                         "{s}",
diff --git a/web/src/pages/EnvPage.tsx b/web/src/pages/EnvPage.tsx
index f411e79cd5..d3286ac25b 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/EnvPage.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/EnvPage.tsx
@@ -133,12 +133,12 @@ function EnvVarRow({
   // Compact inline row for unset, non-editing keys (used inside provider groups)
   if (compact && !info.is_set && !isEditing) {
     return (
-      <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 py-1.5 min-w-0 overflow-hidden opacity-50 hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity">
+      <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 py-1.5 min-w-0 overflow-hidden text-text-secondary hover:text-foreground transition-colors">
         <div className="flex items-center gap-2 min-w-0">
-          <span className="font-mono-ui text-[0.7rem] text-muted-foreground">
+          <span className="font-mono-ui text-xs">
             {varKey}
           </span>
-          <span className="text-[0.65rem] text-muted-foreground/60 truncate hidden sm:block">
+          <span className="text-xs text-text-tertiary truncate hidden sm:block">
             {info.description}
           </span>
         </div>
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ function EnvVarRow({
               href={info.url}
               target="_blank"
               rel="noreferrer"
-              className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 text-[0.65rem] text-primary hover:underline"
+              className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 text-xs text-primary hover:underline"
             >
               {t.env.getKey} <ExternalLink className="h-2.5 w-2.5" />
             </a>
@@ -169,12 +169,12 @@ function EnvVarRow({
   // Non-compact unset row
   if (!info.is_set && !isEditing) {
     return (
-      <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 border border-border/50 px-4 py-2.5 min-w-0 overflow-hidden opacity-60 hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity">
+      <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 border border-border/50 px-4 py-2.5 min-w-0 overflow-hidden text-text-secondary hover:text-foreground transition-colors">
         <div className="flex items-center gap-3 min-w-0">
-          <Label className="font-mono-ui text-[0.7rem] text-muted-foreground">
+          <Label className="font-mono-ui text-xs">
             {varKey}
           </Label>
-          <span className="text-[0.65rem] text-muted-foreground/60 truncate hidden sm:block">
+          <span className="text-xs text-text-tertiary truncate hidden sm:block">
             {info.description}
           </span>
         </div>
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ function EnvVarRow({
               href={info.url}
               target="_blank"
               rel="noreferrer"
-              className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 text-[0.65rem] text-primary hover:underline"
+              className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 text-xs text-primary hover:underline"
             >
               {t.env.getKey} <ExternalLink className="h-2.5 w-2.5" />
             </a>
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ function EnvVarRow({
     <div className="grid gap-2 border border-border p-4 min-w-0 overflow-hidden">
       <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2 flex-wrap">
         <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-          <Label className="font-mono-ui text-[0.7rem]">{varKey}</Label>
+          <Label className="font-mono-ui text-xs">{varKey}</Label>
           <Badge tone={info.is_set ? "success" : "outline"}>
             {info.is_set ? t.common.set : t.env.notSet}
           </Badge>
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ function EnvVarRow({
             href={info.url}
             target="_blank"
             rel="noreferrer"
-            className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 text-[0.65rem] text-primary hover:underline"
+            className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 text-xs text-primary hover:underline"
           >
             {t.env.getKey} <ExternalLink className="h-2.5 w-2.5" />
           </a>
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ function EnvVarRow({
             <Badge
               key={tool}
               tone="secondary"
-              className="text-[0.6rem] py-0 px-1.5"
+              className="text-xs py-0 px-1.5"
             >
               {tool}
             </Badge>
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ function ProviderGroupCard({
             {group.name === "Other" ? t.common.other : group.name}
           </span>
           {hasAnyConfigured && (
-            <Badge tone="success" className="text-[0.6rem]">
+            <Badge tone="success" className="text-xs">
               {configuredCount} {t.common.set.toLowerCase()}
             </Badge>
           )}
@@ -407,13 +407,13 @@ function ProviderGroupCard({
               href={keyUrl}
               target="_blank"
               rel="noreferrer"
-              className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 text-[0.65rem] text-primary hover:underline"
+              className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 text-xs text-primary hover:underline"
               onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
             >
               {t.env.getKey} <ExternalLink className="h-2.5 w-2.5" />
             </a>
           )}
-          <span className="text-[0.65rem] text-muted-foreground/60">
+          <span className="text-xs text-text-tertiary">
             {t.env.keysCount
               .replace("{count}", String(group.entries.length))
               .replace("{s}", group.entries.length !== 1 ? "s" : "")}
@@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ export default function EnvPage() {
             key={s.id}
             type="button"
             onClick={() => scrollTo(s.id)}
-            className="shrink-0 cursor-pointer px-2 py-0.5 text-[10px] uppercase tracking-wider text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground border border-border/50 hover:border-foreground/30 transition-colors"
+            className="shrink-0 cursor-pointer px-2 py-0.5 text-display text-xs tracking-wider text-text-secondary hover:text-foreground border border-border/50 hover:border-foreground/30 transition-colors"
           >
             {s.label}
           </button>
@@ -745,7 +745,7 @@ export default function EnvPage() {
           <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
             {t.env.description} <code>~/.hermes/.env</code>
           </p>
-          <p className="text-[0.7rem] text-muted-foreground/70">
+          <p className="text-xs text-text-tertiary">
             {t.env.changesNote}
           </p>
         </div>
@@ -904,7 +904,7 @@ function CollapsibleUnset({
         prefix={collapsed ? <ChevronRight /> : <ChevronDown />}
         onClick={() => setCollapsed(!collapsed)}
         aria-expanded={!collapsed}
-        className="self-start mt-1 normal-case tracking-normal text-xs text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground"
+        className="self-start mt-1 normal-case tracking-normal text-xs text-text-secondary hover:text-foreground"
       >
         {t.env.notConfigured.replace("{count}", String(unsetEntries.length))}
       </Button>
diff --git a/web/src/pages/LogsPage.tsx b/web/src/pages/LogsPage.tsx
index bfe1be3ec7..80106f80b5 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/LogsPage.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/LogsPage.tsx
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ const LINE_COLORS: Record<string, string> = {
   error: "text-destructive",
   warning: "text-warning",
   info: "text-foreground",
-  debug: "text-muted-foreground/60",
+  debug: "text-text-tertiary",
 };
 
 const toOptions = <T extends string>(values: readonly T[]) =>
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ export default function LogsPage() {
     setAfterTitle(
       <span className="flex items-center gap-2">
         {loading && <Spinner className="shrink-0 text-base text-primary" />}
-        <Badge tone="secondary" className="text-[10px]">
+        <Badge tone="secondary" className="text-xs">
           {file} · {level} · {component}
         </Badge>
       </span>,
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ export default function LogsPage() {
             {t.logs.autoRefresh}
           </Label>
           {autoRefresh && (
-            <Badge tone="success" className="text-[10px]">
+            <Badge tone="success" className="text-xs">
               <span className="mr-1 inline-block h-1.5 w-1.5 animate-pulse rounded-full bg-current" />
               {t.common.live}
             </Badge>
diff --git a/web/src/pages/ModelsPage.tsx b/web/src/pages/ModelsPage.tsx
index 134ff3eab3..a8cd29c232 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/ModelsPage.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/ModelsPage.tsx
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ function TokenBar({
       </div>
 
       {/* Legend */}
-      <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-x-3 gap-y-0.5 text-[10px] text-muted-foreground">
+      <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-x-3 gap-y-0.5 text-xs text-text-secondary">
         {segments.map((s, i) => (
           <span key={i} className="flex items-center gap-1">
             <span className={`inline-block h-1.5 w-1.5 rounded-full ${s.dotColor}`} />
@@ -150,22 +150,22 @@ function CapabilityBadges({
   return (
     <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-1.5">
       {capabilities.supports_tools && (
-        <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 bg-emerald-500/10 px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-medium text-emerald-600 dark:text-emerald-400">
+        <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 bg-emerald-500/10 px-1.5 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium text-emerald-600 dark:text-emerald-400">
           <Wrench className="h-2.5 w-2.5" /> Tools
         </span>
       )}
       {capabilities.supports_vision && (
-        <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 bg-blue-500/10 px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-medium text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-400">
+        <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 bg-blue-500/10 px-1.5 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-400">
           <Eye className="h-2.5 w-2.5" /> Vision
         </span>
       )}
       {capabilities.supports_reasoning && (
-        <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 bg-purple-500/10 px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-medium text-purple-600 dark:text-purple-400">
+        <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 bg-purple-500/10 px-1.5 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium text-purple-600 dark:text-purple-400">
           <Brain className="h-2.5 w-2.5" /> Reasoning
         </span>
       )}
       {capabilities.model_family && (
-        <span className="inline-flex items-center bg-muted px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-medium text-muted-foreground">
+        <span className="inline-flex items-center bg-muted px-1.5 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium text-text-secondary">
           {capabilities.model_family}
         </span>
       )}
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ function UseAsMenu({
         outlined
         onClick={() => setOpen((v) => !v)}
         disabled={busy}
-        className="text-[10px] h-6 px-2"
+        className="text-xs h-6 px-2"
         prefix={busy ? <Spinner /> : null}
       >
         Use as <ChevronDown className="h-3 w-3" />
@@ -253,13 +253,13 @@ function UseAsMenu({
               Main model
             </span>
             {isMain && (
-              <span className="text-[9px] uppercase tracking-wider text-primary/80">
+              <span className="text-display text-xs tracking-wider text-primary">
                 current
               </span>
             )}
           </button>
 
-          <div className="border-t border-border/50 px-3 py-1.5 text-[9px] uppercase tracking-wider text-muted-foreground">
+          <div className="border-t border-border/50 px-3 py-1.5 text-display text-xs tracking-wider text-text-tertiary">
             Auxiliary task
           </div>
 
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ function UseAsMenu({
             >
               <span>{t.label}</span>
               {mainAuxTask === t.key && (
-                <span className="text-[9px] uppercase tracking-wider text-primary/80">
+                <span className="text-display text-xs tracking-wider text-primary">
                   current
                 </span>
               )}
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ function UseAsMenu({
           ))}
 
           {error && (
-            <div className="px-3 py-2 text-[10px] text-destructive border-t border-border/50">
+            <div className="px-3 py-2 text-xs text-destructive border-t border-border/50">
               {error}
             </div>
           )}
@@ -343,36 +343,36 @@ function ModelCard({
         <div className="flex items-start justify-between gap-2">
           <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
             <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-              <span className="text-muted-foreground/50 text-xs font-mono">
+              <span className="text-text-tertiary text-xs font-mono">
                 #{rank}
               </span>
               <CardTitle className="text-sm font-mono-ui truncate">
                 {shortModelName(entry.model)}
               </CardTitle>
               {isMain && (
-                <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-0.5 bg-primary/15 px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[9px] font-medium uppercase tracking-wider text-primary">
+                <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-0.5 bg-primary/15 px-1.5 py-0.5 text-display text-xs font-medium tracking-wider text-primary">
                   <Star className="h-2.5 w-2.5" /> main
                 </span>
               )}
               {mainAuxTask && (
-                <span className="inline-flex items-center bg-purple-500/10 px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[9px] font-medium uppercase tracking-wider text-purple-600 dark:text-purple-400">
+                <span className="inline-flex items-center bg-purple-500/10 px-1.5 py-0.5 text-display text-xs font-medium tracking-wider text-purple-600 dark:text-purple-400">
                   aux · {mainAuxTask}
                 </span>
               )}
             </div>
             <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mt-1">
               {provider && (
-                <Badge tone="secondary" className="text-[9px]">
+                <Badge tone="secondary" className="text-xs">
                   {provider}
                 </Badge>
               )}
               {caps.context_window && caps.context_window > 0 && (
-                <span className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground">
+                <span className="text-xs text-text-secondary">
                   {formatTokenCount(caps.context_window)} ctx
                 </span>
               )}
               {caps.max_output_tokens && caps.max_output_tokens > 0 && (
-                <span className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground">
+                <span className="text-xs text-text-secondary">
                   {formatTokenCount(caps.max_output_tokens)} out
                 </span>
               )}
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ function ModelCard({
                 <div className="text-xs font-mono font-semibold">
                   {formatTokens(totalTokens)}
                 </div>
-                <div className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground">
+                <div className="text-xs text-text-tertiary">
                   {t.models.tokens}
                 </div>
               </div>
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ function ModelCard({
                   <div className="text-xs font-mono font-semibold">
                     {entry.sessions}
                   </div>
-                  <div className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground">
+                  <div className="text-xs text-text-tertiary">
                     {t.models.sessions}
                   </div>
                 </div>
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ function ModelCard({
             <div className="grid grid-cols-3 gap-2 text-xs">
               <div className="text-center">
                 <div className="font-mono font-semibold">{entry.sessions}</div>
-                <div className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground">
+                <div className="text-xs text-text-tertiary">
                   {t.models.sessions}
                 </div>
               </div>
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ function ModelCard({
                 <div className="font-mono font-semibold">
                   {formatTokens(entry.avg_tokens_per_session)}
                 </div>
-                <div className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground">
+                <div className="text-xs text-text-tertiary">
                   {t.models.avgPerSession}
                 </div>
               </div>
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ function ModelCard({
                 <div className="font-mono font-semibold">
                   {entry.api_calls > 0 ? formatTokens(entry.api_calls) : "—"}
                 </div>
-                <div className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground">
+                <div className="text-xs text-text-tertiary">
                   {t.models.apiCalls}
                 </div>
               </div>
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ function ModelCard({
           </>
         )}
 
-        <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-[10px] text-muted-foreground border-t border-border/30 pt-2">
+        <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-xs text-text-secondary border-t border-border/30 pt-2">
           <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
             {showTokens && entry.estimated_cost > 0 && (
               <span className="flex items-center gap-0.5">
@@ -537,7 +537,7 @@ function AuxiliaryTasksModal({
           <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 pr-8">
             <h2
               id="aux-modal-title"
-              className="font-display text-base tracking-wider uppercase"
+              className="text-display font-display text-base tracking-wider"
             >
               Auxiliary Tasks
             </h2>
@@ -546,13 +546,13 @@ function AuxiliaryTasksModal({
               outlined
               onClick={() => setConfirmReset(true)}
               disabled={resetBusy}
-              className="text-[10px] h-6"
+              className="text-xs h-6"
               prefix={resetBusy ? <Spinner /> : null}
             >
               Reset all to auto
             </Button>
           </div>
-          <p className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground/80 mt-2">
+          <p className="text-xs text-text-secondary mt-2">
             Auxiliary tasks handle side-jobs like vision, session search, and
             compression. <span className="font-mono">auto</span> means
             &quot;use the main model&quot;. Override per-task when you want a
@@ -573,11 +573,11 @@ function AuxiliaryTasksModal({
                 <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
                   <div className="flex items-baseline gap-2">
                     <span className="text-xs font-medium">{t.label}</span>
-                    <span className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground/60">
+                    <span className="text-xs text-text-tertiary">
                       {t.hint}
                     </span>
                   </div>
-                  <div className="text-[10px] font-mono text-muted-foreground truncate">
+                  <div className="text-xs font-mono text-text-secondary truncate">
                     {isAuto
                       ? "auto (use main model)"
                       : `${cur?.provider} · ${cur?.model || "(provider default)"}`}
@@ -587,7 +587,7 @@ function AuxiliaryTasksModal({
                   size="sm"
                   outlined
                   onClick={() => setPicker({ kind: "aux", task: t.key })}
-                  className="text-[10px] h-6"
+                  className="text-xs h-6"
                 >
                   Change
                 </Button>
@@ -673,7 +673,7 @@ function ModelSettingsPanel({
         <div className="flex min-w-0 flex-wrap items-center gap-x-2 gap-y-1">
           <Settings2 className="h-4 w-4 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
           <CardTitle className="text-sm">Model Settings</CardTitle>
-          <span className="max-w-full min-w-0 text-[10px] text-muted-foreground [overflow-wrap:anywhere]">
+          <span className="max-w-full min-w-0 text-xs text-text-secondary [overflow-wrap:anywhere]">
             applies to new sessions
           </span>
         </div>
@@ -685,11 +685,11 @@ function ModelSettingsPanel({
           <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
             <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-0.5">
               <Star className="h-3 w-3 text-primary" />
-              <span className="text-xs font-medium uppercase tracking-wider">
+              <span className="text-display text-xs font-medium tracking-wider">
                 Main model
               </span>
             </div>
-            <div className="text-xs font-mono text-muted-foreground truncate">
+            <div className="text-xs font-mono text-text-secondary truncate">
               {mainProv || "(unset)"}
               {mainProv && mainModel && " · "}
               {mainModel || "(unset)"}
@@ -708,12 +708,12 @@ function ModelSettingsPanel({
         <div className="flex min-w-0 flex-col gap-2 bg-muted/20 border border-border/50 px-3 py-2 sm:flex-row sm:items-center sm:justify-between sm:gap-3">
           <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
             <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-0.5">
-              <Cpu className="h-3 w-3 text-muted-foreground" />
-              <span className="text-xs font-medium uppercase tracking-wider">
+              <Cpu className="h-3 w-3 text-text-tertiary" />
+              <span className="text-display text-xs font-medium tracking-wider">
                 Auxiliary tasks
               </span>
             </div>
-            <div className="text-xs font-mono text-muted-foreground truncate">
+            <div className="text-xs font-mono text-text-secondary truncate">
               {auxOverrideCount > 0
                 ? `${auxOverrideCount} override${auxOverrideCount > 1 ? "s" : ""} · ${AUX_TASKS.length - auxOverrideCount} auto`
                 : `${AUX_TASKS.length} tasks · all auto`}
@@ -821,7 +821,7 @@ export default function ModelsPage() {
     setAfterTitle(
       <span className="flex items-center gap-2">
         {loading && <Spinner className="shrink-0 text-base text-primary" />}
-        <Badge tone="secondary" className="text-[10px]">
+        <Badge tone="secondary" className="text-xs">
           {periodLabel}
         </Badge>
       </span>,
@@ -924,7 +924,7 @@ export default function ModelsPage() {
               />
               </div>
               {!showTokens && (
-                <p className="mt-4 text-[10px] text-muted-foreground/70 leading-relaxed">
+                <p className="mt-4 text-xs text-text-tertiary leading-relaxed">
                   Token & cost analytics are hidden because the local counts
                   exclude auxiliary calls (compression, vision, web extract,
                   …) and provider retries, so they diverge from your provider
@@ -975,7 +975,7 @@ export default function ModelsPage() {
                 <div className="flex flex-col items-center text-muted-foreground">
                   <Cpu className="h-8 w-8 mb-3 opacity-40" />
                   <p className="text-sm font-medium">{t.models.noModelsData}</p>
-                  <p className="text-xs mt-1 text-muted-foreground/60">
+                  <p className="text-xs mt-1 text-text-tertiary">
                     {t.models.startSession}
                   </p>
                 </div>
diff --git a/web/src/pages/PluginsPage.tsx b/web/src/pages/PluginsPage.tsx
index cb72551d55..1b79edc152 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/PluginsPage.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/PluginsPage.tsx
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ export default function PluginsPage() {
           <Card>
             <CardHeader>
               <CardTitle>{t.pluginsPage.providersHeading}</CardTitle>
-              <p className="text-[0.7rem] tracking-[0.08em] text-midground/55 normal-case">
+              <p className="text-xs tracking-[0.08em] text-text-tertiary">
                 {t.pluginsPage.providersHint}
               </p>
             </CardHeader>
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ export default function PluginsPage() {
         <Card>
           <CardHeader>
             <CardTitle>{t.pluginsPage.installHeading}</CardTitle>
-            <p className="text-[0.7rem] tracking-[0.08em] text-midground/55 normal-case">
+            <p className="text-xs tracking-[0.08em] text-text-tertiary">
               {t.pluginsPage.installHint}
             </p>
           </CardHeader>
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ export default function PluginsPage() {
               <Label htmlFor="install-url">{t.pluginsPage.identifierLabel}</Label>
 
               <Input
-                className="normal-case font-sans lowercase"
+                className="font-sans lowercase"
                 id="install-url"
                 placeholder="owner/repo or https://..."
                 spellCheck={false}
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ export default function PluginsPage() {
 
                 <Switch checked={installForce} onCheckedChange={setInstallForce} />
 
-                <span className="text-[0.7rem] tracking-[0.06em] text-midforeground/85 normal-case">
+                <span className="text-xs tracking-[0.06em] text-text-secondary">
                   {t.pluginsPage.forceReinstall}
                 </span>
               </div>
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ export default function PluginsPage() {
 
                 <Switch checked={installEnable} onCheckedChange={setInstallEnable} />
 
-                <span className="text-[0.7rem] tracking-[0.06em] text-midforeground/85 normal-case">
+                <span className="text-xs tracking-[0.06em] text-text-secondary">
                   {t.pluginsPage.enableAfterInstall}
                 </span>
               </div>
@@ -281,11 +281,11 @@ export default function PluginsPage() {
               {t.pluginsPage.installBtn}
             </Button>
 
-            <p className="text-[0.65rem] tracking-[0.06em] text-midforeground/55 normal-case">
+            <p className="text-xs tracking-[0.06em] text-text-tertiary">
               {t.pluginsPage.rescanHint}
             </p>
 
-            <p className="text-[0.65rem] tracking-[0.06em] text-midforeground/55 normal-case">
+            <p className="text-xs tracking-[0.06em] text-text-tertiary">
               {t.pluginsPage.removeHint}
             </p>
           </CardContent>
@@ -293,20 +293,20 @@ export default function PluginsPage() {
 
         <div className="flex flex-col gap-3">
 
-          <h3 className="font-mondwest text-[0.75rem] tracking-[0.12em] text-midground/85">
+          <h3 className="font-mondwest text-display text-xs tracking-[0.12em] text-text-secondary">
             {t.pluginsPage.pluginListHeading}
           </h3>
 
           {loading ? (
 
-            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 py-8 text-[0.8rem] text-midforeground/65">
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 py-8 text-xs text-text-tertiary">
 
               <Spinner />
               <span>{t.common.loading}</span>
             </div>
           ) : rows.length === 0 ? (
 
-            <p className="text-[0.75rem] text-midforeground/55 normal-case">{t.common.noResults}</p>
+            <p className="text-xs text-text-tertiary">{t.common.noResults}</p>
           ) : (
 
             <ul className="flex flex-col gap-3">
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ export default function PluginsPage() {
 
           <div className="flex flex-col gap-3 opacity-95">
 
-            <h3 className="font-mondwest text-[0.75rem] tracking-[0.12em] text-midforeground/85">
+            <h3 className="font-mondwest text-display text-xs tracking-[0.12em] text-text-secondary">
               {t.pluginsPage.orphanHeading}
             </h3>
 
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ export default function PluginsPage() {
 
               {hub!.orphan_dashboard_plugins.map((m) => (
 
-                <li className="text-[0.7rem] normal-case opacity-85" key={m.name}>
+                <li className="text-xs text-text-secondary" key={m.name}>
 
 
                   {m.label ?? m.name} — {m.description || m.tab?.path}
@@ -470,7 +470,7 @@ function PluginRowCard(props: PluginRowCardProps) {
                 className={cn(
                   "inline-flex items-center rounded-none px-3 py-1.5",
                   "border border-current/25 hover:bg-current/10",
-                  "font-mondwest text-[0.65rem] tracking-[0.1em] uppercase",
+                  "font-mondwest text-display text-xs tracking-[0.1em]",
                 )}
                 to={tabPath}
               >
@@ -535,14 +535,14 @@ function PluginRowCard(props: PluginRowCardProps) {
         </div>
 
         {row.description ? (
-          <p className="min-w-0 w-full text-[0.7rem] tracking-[0.06em] text-midforeground/75 normal-case break-words">
+          <p className="min-w-0 w-full text-xs tracking-[0.06em] text-text-secondary break-words">
             {row.description}
           </p>
         ) : null}
 
         {dm?.slots?.length ? (
 
-          <p className="text-[0.65rem] tracking-[0.05em] text-midforeground/55 normal-case">
+          <p className="text-xs tracking-[0.05em] text-text-tertiary">
             {t.pluginsPage.dashboardSlots}: {dm.slots.join(", ")}
           </p>
         ) : null}
@@ -557,7 +557,7 @@ function PluginRowCard(props: PluginRowCardProps) {
         {!row.has_dashboard_manifest && !dm ? (
 
 
-          <p className="text-[0.65rem] italic text-midforeground/45 normal-case">
+          <p className="text-xs italic text-text-disabled">
             {t.pluginsPage.noDashboardTab}
           </p>
         ) : null}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/ProfilesPage.tsx b/web/src/pages/ProfilesPage.tsx
index af00c96f6d..c20d01b83e 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/ProfilesPage.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/ProfilesPage.tsx
@@ -242,10 +242,7 @@ export default function ProfilesPage() {
   }
 
   return (
-    // Profile names, model slugs, and paths are case-sensitive; opt out of
-    // the app shell's global ``uppercase`` so they render as the user typed.
-    // Children that explicitly opt back in (Badges, etc.) keep their casing.
-    <div className="flex flex-col gap-6 normal-case">
+    <div className="flex flex-col gap-6">
       <Toast toast={toast} />
 
       <DeleteConfirmDialog
diff --git a/web/src/pages/SessionsPage.tsx b/web/src/pages/SessionsPage.tsx
index f7d24e9d72..af029175ce 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/SessionsPage.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/SessionsPage.tsx
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ function SnippetHighlight({ snippet }: { snippet: string }) {
     parts.push(snippet.slice(last));
   }
   return (
-    <p className="mt-0.5 min-w-0 max-w-full truncate text-xs text-muted-foreground/80">
+    <p className="mt-0.5 min-w-0 max-w-full truncate text-xs text-text-secondary">
       {parts}
     </p>
   );
@@ -191,12 +191,12 @@ function MessageBubble({
       <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-1">
         <span className={`text-xs font-semibold ${style.text}`}>{label}</span>
         {isHit && (
-          <Badge tone="warning" className="text-[9px] py-0 px-1.5">
+          <Badge tone="warning" className="text-xs py-0 px-1.5">
             {t.common.match}
           </Badge>
         )}
         {msg.timestamp && (
-          <span className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground">
+          <span className="text-xs text-text-tertiary">
             {timeAgo(msg.timestamp)}
           </span>
         )}
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ function SessionRow({
                     : t.sessions.untitledSession}
               </span>
               {session.is_active && (
-                <Badge tone="success" className="shrink-0 text-[10px]">
+                <Badge tone="success" className="shrink-0 text-xs">
                   <span className="mr-1 inline-block h-1.5 w-1.5 animate-pulse rounded-full bg-current" />
                   {t.common.live}
                 </Badge>
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ function SessionRow({
           </div>
           {snippet && <SnippetHighlight snippet={snippet} />}
           <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
-            <Badge tone="outline" className="text-[10px]">
+            <Badge tone="outline" className="text-xs">
               {session.source ?? "local"}
             </Badge>
             {resumeInChatEnabled && (
@@ -692,7 +692,7 @@ export default function SessionsPage() {
                         ? "destructive"
                         : "outline"
                 }
-                className="text-[10px] shrink-0"
+                className="text-xs shrink-0"
               >
                 {actionStatus?.running
                   ? t.status.running
@@ -708,7 +708,7 @@ export default function SessionsPage() {
               ghost
               size="icon"
               onClick={dismissLog}
-              className="shrink-0 opacity-60 hover:opacity-100"
+              className="shrink-0 text-text-secondary hover:text-foreground"
               aria-label={t.common.close}
             >
               <X />
@@ -717,7 +717,7 @@ export default function SessionsPage() {
 
           <pre
             ref={logScrollRef}
-            className="max-h-72 overflow-auto px-3 py-2 font-mono-ui text-[11px] leading-relaxed whitespace-pre-wrap break-all"
+            className="max-h-72 overflow-auto px-3 py-2 font-mono-ui text-xs leading-relaxed whitespace-pre-wrap break-all"
           >
             {actionStatus?.lines && actionStatus.lines.length > 0
               ? actionStatus.lines.join("\n")
@@ -761,7 +761,7 @@ export default function SessionsPage() {
                   </span>
 
                   {s.preview && (
-                    <p className="min-w-0 max-w-full text-xs leading-snug text-muted-foreground/70 [overflow-wrap:anywhere]">
+                    <p className="min-w-0 max-w-full text-xs leading-snug text-text-tertiary [overflow-wrap:anywhere]">
                       {s.preview}
                     </p>
                   )}
@@ -769,7 +769,7 @@ export default function SessionsPage() {
 
                 <Badge
                   tone="outline"
-                  className="shrink-0 self-start text-[10px] sm:self-center"
+                  className="shrink-0 self-start text-xs sm:self-center"
                 >
                   <Database className="mr-1 h-3 w-3" />
                   {s.source ?? "local"}
@@ -787,7 +787,7 @@ export default function SessionsPage() {
             {search ? t.sessions.noMatch : t.sessions.noSessions}
           </p>
           {!search && (
-            <p className="text-xs mt-1 text-muted-foreground/60">
+            <p className="text-xs mt-1 text-text-tertiary">
               {t.sessions.startConversation}
             </p>
           )}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/SkillsPage.tsx b/web/src/pages/SkillsPage.tsx
index e48d4fe0c5..37a1f27ef2 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/SkillsPage.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/SkillsPage.tsx
@@ -258,8 +258,8 @@ export default function SkillsPage() {
           <div className="sm:sticky sm:top-0">
             <div className="flex flex-col rounded-none border border-border bg-muted/20">
               <div className="hidden sm:flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-2 border-b border-border">
-                <Filter className="h-3 w-3 text-muted-foreground" />
-                <span className="font-mondwest text-[0.65rem] tracking-[0.12em] uppercase text-muted-foreground">
+                <Filter className="h-3 w-3 text-text-tertiary" />
+                <span className="font-mondwest text-display text-xs tracking-[0.12em] text-text-secondary">
                   {t.skills.filters}
                 </span>
               </div>
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ export default function SkillsPage() {
                 !isSearching &&
                 allCategories.length > 0 && (
                   <div className="hidden sm:flex flex-col border-t border-border">
-                    <div className="px-3 pt-2 pb-1 font-mondwest text-[0.6rem] tracking-[0.12em] uppercase text-muted-foreground/70">
+                    <div className="px-3 pt-2 pb-1 font-mondwest text-display text-xs tracking-[0.12em] text-text-tertiary">
                       {t.skills.categories}
                     </div>
                     <div className="flex flex-col p-2 pt-1 gap-px max-h-[calc(100vh-340px)] overflow-y-auto">
@@ -304,14 +304,14 @@ export default function SkillsPage() {
                             onClick={() =>
                               setActiveCategory(isActive ? null : key)
                             }
-                            className="rounded-none px-2 py-1 text-[11px]"
+                            className="rounded-none px-2 py-1 text-xs"
                           >
                             <span className="flex-1 truncate">{name}</span>
                             <span
-                              className={`text-[10px] tabular-nums ${
+                              className={`text-xs tabular-nums ${
                                 isActive
-                                  ? "text-foreground/60"
-                                  : "text-muted-foreground/50"
+                                  ? "text-text-secondary"
+                                  : "text-text-tertiary"
                               }`}
                             >
                               {count}
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ export default function SkillsPage() {
                     <Search className="h-4 w-4" />
                     {t.skills.title}
                   </CardTitle>
-                  <Badge tone="secondary" className="text-[10px]">
+                  <Badge tone="secondary" className="text-xs">
                     {t.skills.resultCount
                       .replace("{count}", String(searchMatchedSkills.length))
                       .replace(
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ export default function SkillsPage() {
                         )
                       : t.skills.all}
                   </CardTitle>
-                  <Badge tone="secondary" className="text-[10px]">
+                  <Badge tone="secondary" className="text-xs">
                     {t.skills.skillCount
                       .replace("{count}", String(activeSkills.length))
                       .replace("{s}", activeSkills.length !== 1 ? "s" : "")}
@@ -437,18 +437,18 @@ export default function SkillsPage() {
                                 </span>
                                 <Badge
                                   tone={ts.enabled ? "success" : "outline"}
-                                  className="text-[10px]"
+                                  className="text-xs"
                                 >
                                   {ts.enabled
                                     ? t.common.active
                                     : t.common.inactive}
                                 </Badge>
                               </div>
-                              <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground mb-2">
+                              <p className="text-xs text-text-secondary mb-2">
                                 {ts.description}
                               </p>
                               {ts.enabled && !ts.configured && (
-                                <p className="text-[10px] text-amber-300/80 mb-2">
+                                <p className="text-xs text-amber-300 mb-2">
                                   {t.skills.setupNeeded}
                                 </p>
                               )}
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ export default function SkillsPage() {
                                     <Badge
                                       key={tool}
                                       tone="secondary"
-                                      className="text-[10px] font-mono"
+                                      className="text-xs font-mono"
                                     >
                                       {tool}
                                     </Badge>
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ export default function SkillsPage() {
                                 </div>
                               )}
                               {ts.tools.length === 0 && (
-                                <span className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground/60">
+                                <span className="text-xs text-text-tertiary">
                                   {ts.enabled
                                     ? t.skills.toolsetLabel.replace(
                                         "{name}",
diff --git a/web/src/plugins/PluginPage.tsx b/web/src/plugins/PluginPage.tsx
index 45430601fa..10066466e7 100644
--- a/web/src/plugins/PluginPage.tsx
+++ b/web/src/plugins/PluginPage.tsx
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ export function PluginPage({ name }: { name: string }) {
       <div
         className={cn(
           "max-w-lg p-4",
-          "font-mondwest text-sm tracking-[0.08em] text-midground/80",
+          "font-mondwest text-sm tracking-[0.08em] text-text-secondary",
         )}
         role="alert"
       >
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ export function PluginPage({ name }: { name: string }) {
     <div
       className={cn(
         "flex items-center gap-2 p-4",
-        "font-mondwest text-sm tracking-[0.1em] text-midground/60",
+        "font-mondwest text-sm tracking-[0.1em] text-text-tertiary",
       )}
     >
       <Spinner className="shrink-0" />