UI: Minimal redesign with reduced visual noise

- Soften text colors and borders for cleaner appearance
- Remove card/button animations and hover effects
- Increase spacing (padding, gaps) for more whitespace
- Simplify stat labels (remove uppercase, smaller font)
- Remove inner shadows and glow effects
- Constrain chat thread to 768px max width for readability
- Change brand title from 'CLAWDBOT' to 'Clawdbot'
- Update nav styling with better spacing and subtle active state

Co-Authored-By: Claude Haiku 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

ui/src/styles/base.css

@@ -22,19 +22,19 @@
   --chrome: rgba(18, 20, 26, 0.95);
   --chrome-strong: rgba(18, 20, 26, 0.98);
 
-  /* Text - Slightly warmer */
+  /* Text - Softer for reduced contrast */
-  --text: #e4e4e7;
+  --text: #d4d4d8;
-  --text-strong: #fafafa;
+  --text-strong: #f4f4f5;
-  --chat-text: #e4e4e7;
+  --chat-text: #d4d4d8;
-  --muted: #71717a;
+  --muted: #a1a1aa;
-  --muted-strong: #52525b;
+  --muted-strong: #71717a;
-  --muted-foreground: #71717a;
+  --muted-foreground: #a1a1aa;
 
-  /* Border - Subtle but defined */
+  /* Border - Softer and more subtle */
-  --border: #27272a;
+  --border: #2e2e33;
   --border-strong: #3f3f46;
   --border-hover: #52525b;
-  --input: #27272a;
+  --input: #2e2e33;
   --ring: #ff5c5c;
 
   /* Accent - Punchy signature red */
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
   --accent-muted: #ff5c5c;
   --accent-subtle: rgba(255, 92, 92, 0.15);
   --accent-foreground: #fafafa;
-  --accent-glow: rgba(255, 92, 92, 0.25);
+  --accent-glow: rgba(255, 92, 92, 0.15);
   --primary: #ff5c5c;
   --primary-foreground: #ffffff;
 
@@ -68,10 +68,10 @@
   --danger-subtle: rgba(239, 68, 68, 0.12);
   --info: #3b82f6;
 
-  /* Focus - With glow */
+  /* Focus - Subtle ring without glow */
-  --focus: rgba(255, 92, 92, 0.25);
+  --focus: rgba(255, 92, 92, 0.15);
-  --focus-ring: 0 0 0 2px var(--bg), 0 0 0 4px var(--ring);
+  --focus-ring: 0 0 0 2px var(--bg), 0 0 0 3px var(--ring);
-  --focus-glow: 0 0 0 2px var(--bg), 0 0 0 4px var(--ring), 0 0 20px var(--accent-glow);
+  --focus-glow: 0 0 0 2px var(--bg), 0 0 0 3px var(--ring);
 
   /* Grid */
   --grid-line: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.04);
@@ -198,8 +198,8 @@ body {
 
 body {
   margin: 0;
-  font: 400 14px/1.55 var(--font-body);
+  font: 400 14px/1.6 var(--font-body);
-  letter-spacing: -0.02em;
+  letter-spacing: -0.01em;
   background: var(--bg);
   color: var(--text);
   -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;
@@ -357,13 +357,7 @@ select {
   }
 }
 
-/* Stagger animation delays for grouped elements */
+/* Stagger animation delays removed for cleaner feel */
-.stagger-1 { animation-delay: 0ms; }
-.stagger-2 { animation-delay: 50ms; }
-.stagger-3 { animation-delay: 100ms; }
-.stagger-4 { animation-delay: 150ms; }
-.stagger-5 { animation-delay: 200ms; }
-.stagger-6 { animation-delay: 250ms; }
 
 /* Focus visible styles */
 :focus-visible {

ui/src/styles/components.css

@@ -8,18 +8,7 @@
   border: 1px solid var(--border);
   background: var(--card);
   border-radius: var(--radius-lg);
-  padding: 20px;
+  padding: 24px;
-  animation: rise 0.35s var(--ease-out) backwards;
-  transition:
-    border-color var(--duration-normal) var(--ease-out),
-    box-shadow var(--duration-normal) var(--ease-out),
-    transform var(--duration-normal) var(--ease-out);
-  box-shadow: var(--shadow-sm), inset 0 1px 0 var(--card-highlight);
-}
-
-.card:hover {
-  border-color: var(--border-strong);
-  box-shadow: var(--shadow-md), inset 0 1px 0 var(--card-highlight);
 }
 
 .card-title {
@@ -43,25 +32,15 @@
 .stat {
   background: var(--card);
   border-radius: var(--radius-md);
-  padding: 14px 16px;
+  padding: 16px 18px;
   border: 1px solid var(--border);
-  transition:
-    border-color var(--duration-normal) var(--ease-out),
-    box-shadow var(--duration-normal) var(--ease-out);
-  box-shadow: inset 0 1px 0 var(--card-highlight);
-}
-
-.stat:hover {
-  border-color: var(--border-strong);
-  box-shadow: var(--shadow-sm), inset 0 1px 0 var(--card-highlight);
 }
 
 .stat-label {
-  color: var(--muted);
+  color: var(--muted-strong);
-  font-size: 11px;
+  font-size: 12px;
   font-weight: 500;
-  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: -0.01em;
-  letter-spacing: 0.04em;
 }
 
 .stat-value {
@@ -127,13 +106,8 @@
 .account-card {
   border: 1px solid var(--border);
   border-radius: var(--radius-md);
-  padding: 12px;
+  padding: 14px 16px;
   background: var(--bg-elevated);
-  transition: border-color var(--duration-fast) ease;
-}
-
-.account-card:hover {
-  border-color: var(--border-strong);
 }
 
 .account-card-header {
@@ -182,17 +156,12 @@
   display: inline-flex;
   align-items: center;
   gap: 6px;
-  border: 1px solid var(--border);
+  border: none;
   padding: 6px 12px;
   border-radius: var(--radius-full);
   background: var(--secondary);
   font-size: 13px;
   font-weight: 500;
-  transition: border-color var(--duration-fast) ease;
-}
-
-.pill:hover {
-  border-color: var(--border-strong);
 }
 
 .pill.danger {
@@ -304,30 +273,24 @@
   gap: 8px;
   border: 1px solid var(--border);
   background: var(--bg-elevated);
-  padding: 9px 16px;
+  padding: 10px 16px;
   border-radius: var(--radius-md);
   font-size: 13px;
   font-weight: 500;
   letter-spacing: -0.01em;
   cursor: pointer;
   transition:
-    border-color var(--duration-fast) var(--ease-out),
     background var(--duration-fast) var(--ease-out),
-    box-shadow var(--duration-fast) var(--ease-out),
+    border-color var(--duration-fast) var(--ease-out);
-    transform var(--duration-fast) var(--ease-out);
 }
 
 .btn:hover {
   background: var(--bg-hover);
   border-color: var(--border-strong);
-  transform: translateY(-1px);
-  box-shadow: var(--shadow-sm);
 }
 
 .btn:active {
   background: var(--secondary);
-  transform: translateY(0);
-  box-shadow: none;
 }
 
 .btn svg {
@@ -345,13 +308,11 @@
   border-color: var(--accent);
   background: var(--accent);
   color: var(--primary-foreground);
-  box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);
 }
 
 .btn.primary:hover {
   background: var(--accent-hover);
   border-color: var(--accent-hover);
-  box-shadow: var(--shadow-md), 0 0 20px var(--accent-glow);
 }
 
 /* Keyboard shortcut badge (shadcn style) */
@@ -434,19 +395,15 @@
   border: 1px solid var(--input);
   background: var(--card);
   border-radius: var(--radius-md);
-  padding: 8px 12px;
+  padding: 10px 14px;
   outline: none;
-  box-shadow: inset 0 1px 0 var(--card-highlight);
+  transition: border-color var(--duration-fast) ease;
-  transition:
-    border-color var(--duration-fast) ease,
-    box-shadow var(--duration-fast) ease;
 }
 
 .field input:focus,
 .field textarea:focus,
 .field select:focus {
   border-color: var(--ring);
-  box-shadow: var(--focus-ring);
 }
 
 .field select {
@@ -620,9 +577,8 @@
   align-items: start;
   border: 1px solid var(--border);
   border-radius: var(--radius-md);
-  padding: 12px;
+  padding: 14px 16px;
   background: var(--card);
-  transition: border-color var(--duration-fast) ease;
 }
 
 .list-item-clickable {
@@ -698,18 +654,14 @@
   font-weight: 500;
   border: 1px solid var(--border);
   border-radius: var(--radius-full);
-  padding: 5px 12px;
+  padding: 6px 12px;
   color: var(--muted);
   background: var(--secondary);
-  transition:
+  transition: border-color var(--duration-fast) var(--ease-out);
-    border-color var(--duration-fast) var(--ease-out),
-    background var(--duration-fast) var(--ease-out),
-    transform var(--duration-fast) var(--ease-out);
 }
 
 .chip:hover {
   border-color: var(--border-strong);
-  transform: translateY(-1px);
 }
 
 .chip input {
@@ -754,14 +706,9 @@
 
 .table-row {
   border: 1px solid var(--border);
-  padding: 10px 12px;
+  padding: 12px 14px;
   border-radius: var(--radius-md);
   background: var(--card);
-  transition: border-color var(--duration-fast) ease;
-}
-
-.table-row:hover {
-  border-color: var(--border-strong);
 }
 
 .session-link {
@@ -891,6 +838,10 @@
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
   min-height: 0;
+  max-width: 768px;
+  margin-left: auto;
+  margin-right: auto;
+  width: 100%;
 }
 
 .shell--chat .chat {
@@ -934,6 +885,10 @@
   overflow-x: hidden;
   padding: 16px 12px;
   min-width: 0;
+  max-width: 768px;
+  margin-left: auto;
+  margin-right: auto;
+  width: 100%;
   border-radius: 0;
   border: none;
   background: transparent;
@@ -1307,6 +1262,10 @@
   grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr) auto;
   align-items: end;
   gap: 10px;
+  max-width: 768px;
+  margin-left: auto;
+  margin-right: auto;
+  width: 100%;
 }
 
 .shell--chat .chat-compose {
@@ -1331,7 +1290,7 @@
 
 .chat-compose__field textarea {
   min-height: 72px;
-  padding: 10px 14px;
+  padding: 12px 16px;
   border-radius: var(--radius-lg);
   resize: vertical;
   white-space: pre-wrap;
@@ -1339,15 +1298,11 @@
   line-height: 1.5;
   border: 1px solid var(--input);
   background: var(--card);
-  box-shadow: inset 0 1px 0 var(--card-highlight);
+  transition: border-color var(--duration-fast) ease;
-  transition:
-    border-color var(--duration-fast) ease,
-    box-shadow var(--duration-fast) ease;
 }
 
 .chat-compose__field textarea:focus {
   border-color: var(--ring);
-  box-shadow: var(--focus-ring);
 }
 
 .chat-compose__field textarea:disabled {

ui/src/styles/layout.css

@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@
    =========================================== */
 
 .shell {
-  --shell-pad: 16px;
+  --shell-pad: 20px;
-  --shell-gap: 16px;
+  --shell-gap: 20px;
   --shell-nav-width: 220px;
-  --shell-topbar-height: 56px;
+  --shell-topbar-height: 64px;
   --shell-focus-duration: 200ms;
   --shell-focus-ease: var(--ease-out);
   height: 100vh;
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@
   grid-area: nav;
   overflow-y: auto;
   overflow-x: hidden;
-  padding: 16px 12px;
+  padding: 20px 14px;
   background: var(--bg);
   scrollbar-width: none; /* Firefox */
   transition:
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@
 
 /* Nav groups */
 .nav-group {
-  margin-bottom: 20px;
+  margin-bottom: 28px;
   display: grid;
   gap: 2px;
 }
@@ -301,24 +301,21 @@
   justify-content: space-between;
   gap: 8px;
   width: 100%;
-  padding: 6px 10px;
+  padding: 6px 14px;
   font-size: 11px;
   font-weight: 500;
-  color: var(--muted);
+  color: var(--muted-strong);
-  margin-bottom: 4px;
+  margin-bottom: 6px;
   background: transparent;
   border: none;
   cursor: pointer;
   text-align: left;
   border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
-  transition:
+  transition: color var(--duration-fast) ease;
-    color var(--duration-fast) ease,
-    background var(--duration-fast) ease;
 }
 
 .nav-label:hover {
-  color: var(--text);
+  color: var(--muted);
-  background: var(--bg-hover);
 }
 
 .nav-label--static {
@@ -351,7 +348,7 @@
   align-items: center;
   justify-content: flex-start;
   gap: 10px;
-  padding: 8px 10px;
+  padding: 10px 14px;
   border-radius: var(--radius-md);
   border: 1px solid transparent;
   background: transparent;
@@ -359,7 +356,6 @@
   cursor: pointer;
   text-decoration: none;
   transition:
-    border-color var(--duration-fast) ease,
     background var(--duration-fast) ease,
     color var(--duration-fast) ease;
 }
@@ -371,8 +367,6 @@
   align-items: center;
   justify-content: center;
   flex-shrink: 0;
-  opacity: 0.7;
-  transition: opacity var(--duration-fast) ease;
 }
 
 .nav-item__icon svg {
@@ -397,18 +391,9 @@
   text-decoration: none;
 }
 
-.nav-item:hover .nav-item__icon {
-  opacity: 1;
-}
-
 .nav-item.active {
   color: var(--text-strong);
-  background: var(--accent-subtle);
+  background: var(--bg-hover);
-}
-
-.nav-item.active .nav-item__icon {
-  opacity: 1;
-  color: var(--accent);
 }
 
 /* ===========================================
@@ -417,7 +402,7 @@
 
 .content {
   grid-area: content;
-  padding: 12px 16px 32px;
+  padding: 20px 24px 32px;
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
   gap: 24px;
@@ -507,7 +492,7 @@
 
 .grid {
   display: grid;
-  gap: 20px;
+  gap: 24px;
 }
 
 .grid-cols-2 {

ui/src/ui/app-render.ts

@@ -132,8 +132,7 @@ export function renderApp(state: AppViewState) {
               <img src="https://mintcdn.com/clawdhub/4rYvG-uuZrMK_URE/assets/pixel-lobster.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=4rYvG-uuZrMK_URE&q=85&s=da2032e9eac3b5d9bfe7eb96ca6a8a26" alt="Clawdbot" />
             </div>
             <div class="brand-text">
-              <div class="brand-title">CLAWDBOT</div>
+              <div class="brand-title">Clawdbot</div>
-              <div class="brand-sub">Gateway Dashboard</div>
             </div>
           </div>
         </div>