diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 04f701b5..237fa406 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -46,3 +46,9 @@ docs/wip/**
 
 # Personal Claude Code settings (per-developer, not shared)
 .claude/settings.local.json
+
+# transient local scratch (dev session helpers)
+.mint.cjs
+.chip-preview.*
+.shot.cjs
+scratch-*.cjs
diff --git a/.mint.cjs b/.mint.cjs
deleted file mode 100644
index 138979f5..00000000
--- a/.mint.cjs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-const fs=require("fs");const {encode}=require("next-auth/jwt");
-const env=Object.fromEntries(fs.readFileSync(".env.local","utf8").split("\n").filter(l=>l.includes("=")).map(l=>{const i=l.indexOf("=");return[l.slice(0,i).trim(),l.slice(i+1).trim().replace(/^["']|["']$/g,"")]}));
-encode({token:{email:"khalim@domna.homes",name:"K",onboarded:true,sub:"verify"},secret:env.NEXTAUTH_SECRET}).then(t=>console.log(t));
diff --git a/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/(portfolio)/settings/tags/TagsCard.tsx b/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/(portfolio)/settings/tags/TagsCard.tsx
index 47419323..b9c0d4a4 100644
--- a/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/(portfolio)/settings/tags/TagsCard.tsx
+++ b/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/(portfolio)/settings/tags/TagsCard.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { Button } from "@/app/shadcn_components/ui/button";
 import { Input } from "@/app/shadcn_components/ui/input";
 import { Pencil, Trash2, Check, X, Plus } from "lucide-react";
 import { MAX_TAG_NAME_LENGTH } from "@/lib/tags/model";
+import { TagChip } from "@/app/portfolio/[slug]/components/TagChip";
 
 interface Tag {
   id: string;
@@ -135,18 +136,6 @@ export default function TagsCard({ portfolioId }: { portfolioId: string }) {
   );
 }
 
-function TagChip({ colour, name }: { colour: string; name: string }) {
-  return (
-    <span
-      className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full text-xs font-medium"
-      style={{ backgroundColor: `${colour}22`, color: colour }}
-    >
-      <span className="h-2 w-2 rounded-full" style={{ backgroundColor: colour }} />
-      {name}
-    </span>
-  );
-}
-
 function TagRow({
   portfolioId,
   tag,
diff --git a/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/components/PropertyFilters.tsx b/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/components/PropertyFilters.tsx
index 979c5c77..b6551978 100644
--- a/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/components/PropertyFilters.tsx
+++ b/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/components/PropertyFilters.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import React, { useState, useRef, useEffect } from "react";
 import { X, Plus, ChevronDown, Check } from "lucide-react";
 import { getEpcColorClass } from "@/app/utils";
-import { tagChipStyle } from "@/lib/tags/colour";
+import { tagDotColour } from "@/lib/tags/colour";
 import { Tag, usePortfolioTags } from "./useTags";
 import {
   FilterGroups,
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ function TagMultiDropdown({
               >
                 <span
                   className={`h-3 w-3 shrink-0 rounded-full border ${untagged ? "border-dashed border-gray-400" : ""}`}
-                  style={untagged ? undefined : { backgroundColor: tagChipStyle(opt.colour!).backgroundColor }}
+                  style={untagged ? undefined : { backgroundColor: tagDotColour(opt.colour!) }}
                 />
                 <span className="flex-1 text-gray-700 leading-tight truncate">{opt.label}</span>
                 <span
diff --git a/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/components/TagBulkBar.tsx b/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/components/TagBulkBar.tsx
index 5cbaa9c3..5315f9ee 100644
--- a/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/components/TagBulkBar.tsx
+++ b/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/components/TagBulkBar.tsx
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import {
   DropdownMenuTrigger,
 } from "@/app/shadcn_components/ui/dropdown-menu";
 import { FilterGroups } from "@/app/utils/propertyFilters";
-import { tagChipStyle } from "@/lib/tags/colour";
+import { tagDotColour } from "@/lib/tags/colour";
 import { Tag, useInvalidateTagSurfaces, usePortfolioTags } from "./useTags";
 import { BulkTagUploadModal } from "./BulkTagUploadModal";
 
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ function TagMenu({
             >
               <span
                 className="h-3 w-3 shrink-0 rounded-full border"
-                style={{ backgroundColor: tagChipStyle(t.colour).backgroundColor }}
+                style={{ backgroundColor: tagDotColour(t.colour) }}
               />
               <span className="truncate text-xs">{t.name}</span>
             </DropdownMenuItem>
diff --git a/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/components/TagChip.tsx b/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/components/TagChip.tsx
index 1ef68862..f2bb8f9c 100644
--- a/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/components/TagChip.tsx
+++ b/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/components/TagChip.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 "use client";
 
 import { X } from "lucide-react";
-import { tagChipStyle } from "@/lib/tags/colour";
+import { tagChipTokens } from "@/lib/tags/colour";
 
 /**
- * A Tag chip: solid fill in the Tag's freeform hex, with auto-contrast text so
- * any colour stays legible (ADR-0013). Shared across the property table, the
- * tags filter, and the run UI so every surface reads as one system.
+ * A Tag chip in the app's one calm, AA-safe chip vocabulary (ADR-0013,
+ * PRODUCT.md): a soft tint of the Tag's freeform hex, a colour dot, and dark
+ * hue-preserving ink that stays legible for any colour. Shared across the
+ * property table, tags filter, bulk bar, upload, settings, and run UI so every
+ * surface reads as one system.
  */
 export function TagChip({
   name,
@@ -21,16 +23,23 @@ export function TagChip({
   onRemove?: () => void;
   title?: string;
 }) {
+  const tokens = tagChipTokens(colour);
   const sizing =
     size === "xs"
-      ? "px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[10px]"
-      : "px-2 py-0.5 text-[11px]";
+      ? "gap-1 px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[10px]"
+      : "gap-1.5 px-2 py-0.5 text-[11px]";
+  const dot = size === "xs" ? "h-1.5 w-1.5" : "h-2 w-2";
   return (
     <span
-      className={`inline-flex max-w-[9rem] items-center gap-1 rounded-full border font-semibold leading-none ${sizing}`}
-      style={tagChipStyle(colour)}
+      className={`inline-flex max-w-[10rem] items-center rounded-full border font-medium leading-none ${sizing}`}
+      style={{
+        backgroundColor: tokens.backgroundColor,
+        borderColor: tokens.borderColor,
+        color: tokens.color,
+      }}
       title={title ?? name}
     >
+      <span className={`${dot} shrink-0 rounded-full`} style={{ backgroundColor: tokens.dot }} />
       <span className="truncate">{name}</span>
       {onRemove && (
         <button
@@ -39,7 +48,7 @@ export function TagChip({
             e.stopPropagation();
             onRemove();
           }}
-          className="-mr-0.5 shrink-0 rounded-full opacity-80 transition hover:opacity-100"
+          className="-mr-0.5 shrink-0 rounded-full opacity-70 transition hover:opacity-100"
           aria-label={`Remove ${name}`}
         >
           <X className="h-3 w-3" />
diff --git a/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/components/TagsCell.tsx b/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/components/TagsCell.tsx
index 5582426c..004a2df1 100644
--- a/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/components/TagsCell.tsx
+++ b/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/components/TagsCell.tsx
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import {
   PopoverTrigger,
 } from "@/app/shadcn_components/ui/popover";
 import { PropertyWithRelations, PropertyTag } from "@/app/db/schema/property";
-import { tagChipStyle } from "@/lib/tags/colour";
+import { tagDotColour } from "@/lib/tags/colour";
 import { TagChip } from "./TagChip";
 import {
   Tag,
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ export function TagsCell({ property }: { property: PropertyWithRelations }) {
                 >
                   <span
                     className="h-3 w-3 shrink-0 rounded-full border"
-                    style={{ backgroundColor: tagChipStyle(t.colour).backgroundColor }}
+                    style={{ backgroundColor: tagDotColour(t.colour) }}
                   />
                   <span className="flex-1 truncate text-xs text-slate-700">
                     {t.name}
diff --git a/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/modelling/run/RunModellingClient.tsx b/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/modelling/run/RunModellingClient.tsx
index fe3bc0fc..fa074bc8 100644
--- a/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/modelling/run/RunModellingClient.tsx
+++ b/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/modelling/run/RunModellingClient.tsx
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import {
   selectionSummary,
 } from "@/lib/modellingRuns/model";
 import { usePortfolioTags } from "@/app/portfolio/[slug]/components/useTags";
-import { tagChipStyle } from "@/lib/tags/colour";
+import { tagDotColour } from "@/lib/tags/colour";
 
 export interface ScenarioOption {
   id: string;
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ function FilterColumn({
                 {o.colour && (
                   <span
                     className="h-2.5 w-2.5 shrink-0 rounded-full border"
-                    style={{ backgroundColor: tagChipStyle(o.colour).backgroundColor }}
+                    style={{ backgroundColor: tagDotColour(o.colour) }}
                   />
                 )}
                 <span className="truncate">{o.label ?? o.value}</span>
diff --git a/src/lib/tags/colour.test.ts b/src/lib/tags/colour.test.ts
index 6dae9d09..90d5524d 100644
--- a/src/lib/tags/colour.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/tags/colour.test.ts
@@ -1,45 +1,82 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
-import { readableTextColour, tagChipStyle } from "./colour";
+import {
+  normaliseHex,
+  tagDotColour,
+  tagChipTokens,
+  luminance,
+} from "./colour";
 
-describe("readableTextColour", () => {
-  it("returns dark text on a light background", () => {
-    expect(readableTextColour("#ffffff")).toBe("#1f2937");
-    expect(readableTextColour("#fde047")).toBe("#1f2937"); // bright yellow
+/** WCAG relative-luminance + contrast for asserting chip legibility in tests. */
+function lum(hex: string): number {
+  const n = hex.replace("#", "");
+  const [r, g, b] = [0, 2, 4].map((i) => {
+    const s = parseInt(n.slice(i, i + 2), 16) / 255;
+    return s <= 0.03928 ? s / 12.92 : ((s + 0.055) / 1.055) ** 2.4;
   });
+  return 0.2126 * r + 0.7152 * g + 0.0722 * b;
+}
+function contrast(a: string, b: string): number {
+  const [la, lb] = [lum(a), lum(b)];
+  const [hi, lo] = la >= lb ? [la, lb] : [lb, la];
+  return (hi + 0.05) / (lo + 0.05);
+}
 
-  it("returns white text on a dark background", () => {
-    expect(readableTextColour("#000000")).toBe("#ffffff");
-    expect(readableTextColour("#7c3aed")).toBe("#ffffff"); // violet
+describe("normaliseHex", () => {
+  it("lowercases, hashes, and expands 3-digit hex", () => {
+    expect(normaliseHex("  #FDE047 ")).toBe("#fde047");
+    expect(normaliseHex("#FFF")).toBe("#ffffff");
   });
-
-  it("accepts 3-digit hex", () => {
-    expect(readableTextColour("#fff")).toBe("#1f2937");
-    expect(readableTextColour("#000")).toBe("#ffffff");
-  });
-
-  it("is case-insensitive and tolerates surrounding whitespace", () => {
-    expect(readableTextColour("  #7C3AED ")).toBe("#ffffff");
-  });
-
-  it("falls back to dark text for an unparseable colour", () => {
-    expect(readableTextColour("not-a-colour")).toBe("#1f2937");
+  it("returns null for an unparseable colour", () => {
+    expect(normaliseHex("not-a-colour")).toBeNull();
   });
 });
 
-describe("tagChipStyle", () => {
-  it("builds a solid chip with an auto-contrast foreground", () => {
-    expect(tagChipStyle("#7c3aed")).toEqual({
-      backgroundColor: "#7c3aed",
-      color: "#ffffff",
-      borderColor: "#7c3aed",
-    });
+describe("tagDotColour", () => {
+  it("returns the normalised hex", () => {
+    expect(tagDotColour("#7C3AED")).toBe("#7c3aed");
   });
-
-  it("normalises the hex it echoes back (trim + lowercase)", () => {
-    expect(tagChipStyle("  #FDE047 ")).toEqual({
-      backgroundColor: "#fde047",
-      color: "#1f2937",
-      borderColor: "#fde047",
-    });
+  it("falls back to slate for garbage input", () => {
+    expect(tagDotColour("nope")).toBe("#64748b");
+  });
+});
+
+describe("luminance", () => {
+  it("ranks black below white", () => {
+    expect(luminance("#000000")).toBeLessThan(luminance("#ffffff"));
+  });
+});
+
+describe("tagChipTokens", () => {
+  it("builds a soft tint, border, dot, and readable ink", () => {
+    const t = tagChipTokens("#7c3aed");
+    expect(t.dot).toBe("#7c3aed");
+    // Both tint and border are blended over white, so lighter than the source;
+    // the border carries more of the colour, so it sits between tint and source.
+    expect(luminance(t.backgroundColor)).toBeGreaterThan(luminance("#7c3aed"));
+    expect(luminance(t.borderColor)).toBeGreaterThan(luminance("#7c3aed"));
+    expect(luminance(t.borderColor)).toBeLessThan(luminance(t.backgroundColor));
+  });
+
+  it("guarantees AA (≥4.5:1) ink for a hard, pale colour (yellow)", () => {
+    const t = tagChipTokens("#fde047");
+    expect(contrast(t.color, t.backgroundColor)).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(4.5);
+  });
+
+  it("guarantees AA ink across a spread of freeform hues", () => {
+    for (const c of ["#ef4444", "#22c55e", "#3b82f6", "#000000", "#ffffff", "#14163d"]) {
+      const t = tagChipTokens(c);
+      expect(contrast(t.color, t.backgroundColor)).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(4.5);
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("keeps a dark tag's ink close to its own hue (minimal darkening)", () => {
+    // Navy is already dark enough — ink should not collapse to pure black.
+    expect(tagChipTokens("#14163d").color).not.toBe("#000000");
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to a neutral chip for an unparseable colour", () => {
+    const t = tagChipTokens("garbage");
+    expect(t.dot).toBe("#64748b");
+    expect(contrast(t.color, t.backgroundColor)).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(4.5);
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/lib/tags/colour.ts b/src/lib/tags/colour.ts
index 775f451a..88986148 100644
--- a/src/lib/tags/colour.ts
+++ b/src/lib/tags/colour.ts
@@ -1,23 +1,25 @@
 /**
  * Pure colour helpers for rendering Tag chips (ADR-0013). A Tag's colour is a
- * freeform hex, so the foreground text must be chosen per-colour to stay legible
- * on both pale and vivid backgrounds. Kept DB-free + side-effect-free so it unit
- * tests cleanly and is shared by every chip surface (table, filter, run UI).
+ * freeform hex, so chips must stay calm and legible for ANY hue — the product is
+ * institutional and WCAG-AA (PRODUCT.md). The chip vocabulary is one system
+ * everywhere: a soft tint of the colour, a colour dot, and hue-preserving dark
+ * ink whose contrast against the tint is guaranteed ≥ 4.5:1. Kept DB-free +
+ * side-effect-free so it unit-tests cleanly and is shared by every chip surface.
  */
 
-/** Slate-800 — the dark foreground used on light chip backgrounds. */
-const DARK_TEXT = "#1f2937";
-const LIGHT_TEXT = "#ffffff";
+type Rgb = [number, number, number];
+
+/** Slate-500 — a neutral fallback for an unparseable colour. */
+const FALLBACK = "#64748b";
+/** Minimum WCAG contrast for the chip's ink against its tint background. */
+const MIN_CONTRAST = 4.5;
 
 /** Parse `#rgb` / `#rrggbb` (any case, surrounding space) → [r,g,b] 0-255, or null. */
-function parseHex(input: string): [number, number, number] | null {
+function parseHex(input: string): Rgb | null {
   const hex = input.trim().toLowerCase().replace(/^#/, "");
   const full =
     hex.length === 3
-      ? hex
-          .split("")
-          .map((c) => c + c)
-          .join("")
+      ? hex.split("").map((c) => c + c).join("")
       : hex;
   if (!/^[0-9a-f]{6}$/.test(full)) return null;
   return [
@@ -27,47 +29,85 @@ function parseHex(input: string): [number, number, number] | null {
   ];
 }
 
+function toHex(rgb: Rgb): string {
+  return "#" + rgb.map((c) => Math.round(c).toString(16).padStart(2, "0")).join("");
+}
+
 /** Normalise a hex to lowercase `#rrggbb`, or null if unparseable. */
 export function normaliseHex(input: string): string | null {
   const rgb = parseHex(input);
-  if (!rgb) return null;
-  return "#" + rgb.map((c) => c.toString(16).padStart(2, "0")).join("");
+  return rgb ? toHex(rgb) : null;
 }
 
-/**
- * Relative luminance (WCAG) of a hex colour, 0 (black) → 1 (white). Unparseable
- * colours are treated as light so the caller falls back to dark text.
- */
-export function luminance(input: string): number {
-  const rgb = parseHex(input);
-  if (!rgb) return 1;
-  const [r, g, b] = rgb.map((c) => {
+/** The dot colour for a Tag — its normalised hex, or a neutral fallback. */
+export function tagDotColour(colour: string): string {
+  return normaliseHex(colour) ?? FALLBACK;
+}
+
+function luminanceRgb([r, g, b]: Rgb): number {
+  const lin = [r, g, b].map((c) => {
     const s = c / 255;
     return s <= 0.03928 ? s / 12.92 : ((s + 0.055) / 1.055) ** 2.4;
   });
-  return 0.2126 * r + 0.7152 * g + 0.0722 * b;
+  return 0.2126 * lin[0] + 0.7152 * lin[1] + 0.0722 * lin[2];
+}
+
+/** Relative luminance (WCAG) of a hex colour, 0 → 1; unparseable → 1 (light). */
+export function luminance(input: string): number {
+  const rgb = parseHex(input);
+  return rgb ? luminanceRgb(rgb) : 1;
+}
+
+function contrast(a: Rgb, b: Rgb): number {
+  const la = luminanceRgb(a);
+  const lb = luminanceRgb(b);
+  const [hi, lo] = la >= lb ? [la, lb] : [lb, la];
+  return (hi + 0.05) / (lo + 0.05);
+}
+
+/** Blend `colour` over white at `alpha` (0-1) → the resulting opaque rgb. */
+function overWhite(rgb: Rgb, alpha: number): Rgb {
+  return rgb.map((c) => c * alpha + 255 * (1 - alpha)) as Rgb;
+}
+
+/** Mix `rgb` toward black by `t` (0 = unchanged, 1 = black). */
+function towardBlack(rgb: Rgb, t: number): Rgb {
+  return rgb.map((c) => c * (1 - t)) as Rgb;
 }
 
 /**
- * The text colour to lay over a `background` chip: dark on light colours, white
- * on dark ones. 0.5 is a practical threshold for readable both-ways contrast.
+ * A dark, hue-preserving ink for `colour` that reads at ≥ 4.5:1 on `bg`. Starts
+ * from the colour itself (dark tags keep their exact hue) and darkens toward
+ * black only as far as legibility requires.
  */
-export function readableTextColour(background: string): string {
-  return luminance(background) > 0.5 ? DARK_TEXT : LIGHT_TEXT;
+function readableInk(rgb: Rgb, bg: Rgb): string {
+  for (let t = 0; t <= 1.0001; t += 0.05) {
+    const candidate = towardBlack(rgb, t);
+    if (contrast(candidate, bg) >= MIN_CONTRAST) return toHex(candidate);
+  }
+  return "#000000";
 }
 
-export interface ChipStyle {
+export interface ChipTokens {
   backgroundColor: string;
-  color: string;
   borderColor: string;
+  color: string;
+  dot: string;
 }
 
-/** Inline style for a solid Tag chip filled with its colour + auto-contrast text. */
-export function tagChipStyle(colour: string): ChipStyle {
-  const bg = normaliseHex(colour) ?? colour.trim().toLowerCase();
+/**
+ * Inline tokens for a soft Tag chip: a light tint of the colour, a slightly
+ * stronger border, a colour dot, and dark hue-preserving ink guaranteed legible
+ * on the tint. One quiet, AA-safe vocabulary for every chip in the app.
+ */
+export function tagChipTokens(colour: string): ChipTokens {
+  const rgb = parseHex(colour) ?? parseHex(FALLBACK)!;
+  const tint = overWhite(rgb, 0.14);
+  const border = overWhite(rgb, 0.34);
   return {
-    backgroundColor: bg,
-    color: readableTextColour(bg),
-    borderColor: bg,
+    backgroundColor: toHex(tint),
+    borderColor: toHex(border),
+    color: readableInk(rgb, tint),
+    dot: toHex(rgb),
   };
 }