diff --git a/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/(portfolio)/scenarios/new/NewScenarioJourney.tsx b/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/(portfolio)/scenarios/new/NewScenarioJourney.tsx
index 551ce7c1..4bcee7c9 100644
--- a/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/(portfolio)/scenarios/new/NewScenarioJourney.tsx
+++ b/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/(portfolio)/scenarios/new/NewScenarioJourney.tsx
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import {
   type MeasureKey,
 } from "@/app/db/schema/recommendations";
 import { EPC_BANDS, findExactDuplicate, SCENARIO_GOALS } from "@/lib/scenarios/model";
-import { BandChip, EPC_SOFT, GOAL_DESCRIPTIONS, GOAL_SHORT_LABELS, GoalIcon, formatMoney } from "../ui";
+import { BandChip, EPC_SOFT, GOAL_DESCRIPTIONS, GOAL_SHORT_LABELS, GoalIcon, bandInk, bandTint, formatMoney } from "../ui";
 
 interface ExistingScenario {
   id: string;
@@ -293,20 +293,28 @@ export function NewScenarioJourney({
                 <div className="mb-5 pb-5">
                   <label className={fieldLabel}>Target band</label>
                   <div className="flex max-w-[480px] gap-1.5">
-                    {[...EPC_BANDS].reverse().map((b) => (
+                    {EPC_BANDS.map((b) => (
                       <button
                         key={b}
                         aria-pressed={band === b}
                         className="relative h-[52px] rounded-xl border-2 font-manrope text-lg font-extrabold transition-all"
-                        style={{
-                          background: EPC_SOFT[b],
-                          color: ["C", "D", "E"].includes(b) ? "#333a1d" : "#fff",
-                          opacity: band === b ? 1 : 0.38,
-                          flexGrow: band === b ? 1.7 : 1,
-                          transform: band === b ? "translateY(-3px)" : undefined,
-                          borderColor: band === b ? "#14163d" : "transparent",
-                          boxShadow: "inset 0 -12px 16px rgba(0,0,0,.10)",
-                        }}
+                        style={
+                          band === b
+                            ? {
+                                background: EPC_SOFT[b],
+                                color: bandInk(b),
+                                flexGrow: 1.7,
+                                transform: "translateY(-3px)",
+                                borderColor: "#14163d",
+                                boxShadow: "inset 0 -12px 16px rgba(0,0,0,.10)",
+                              }
+                            : {
+                                background: bandTint(b),
+                                color: "#3f4757",
+                                flexGrow: 1,
+                                borderColor: "transparent",
+                              }
+                        }
                         onClick={() => setBand(b)}
                       >
                         {b}
@@ -395,10 +403,9 @@ export function NewScenarioJourney({
                           aria-pressed={off}
                           className={`inline-flex items-center gap-2 rounded-full border px-3.5 py-1.5 text-[13px] transition ${
                             off
-                              ? "border-transparent text-indigo-200 line-through"
-                              : "border-gray-200 bg-white hover:border-gray-400"
+                              ? "border-gray-200 bg-gray-100 text-gray-400 line-through hover:border-gray-300"
+                              : "border-gray-200 bg-white text-brandblue hover:border-gray-400"
                           }`}
-                          style={off ? { background: "linear-gradient(135deg,#20234f,#14163d)" } : undefined}
                           onClick={() =>
                             setExcluded((prev) => {
                               const nextSet = new Set(prev);
@@ -408,7 +415,7 @@ export function NewScenarioJourney({
                             })
                           }
                         >
-                          <span className={off ? "text-indigo-300" : "font-bold text-brandmidblue"}>
+                          <span className={off ? "text-gray-400" : "font-bold text-brandmidblue"}>
                             {off ? "✕" : "✓"}
                           </span>
                           {measuresDisplayLabels[k]}
diff --git a/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/(portfolio)/scenarios/ui.tsx b/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/(portfolio)/scenarios/ui.tsx
index b163fcad..ac907289 100644
--- a/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/(portfolio)/scenarios/ui.tsx
+++ b/src/app/portfolio/[slug]/(portfolio)/scenarios/ui.tsx
@@ -14,6 +14,18 @@ export const EPC_SOFT: Record<string, string> = {
 };
 const DARK_TEXT_BANDS = new Set(["C", "D", "E"]);
 
+/** Letter ink with adequate contrast on the band's full colour (dark on the light mid-bands, white on the saturated ends). */
+export function bandInk(band: string): string {
+  return DARK_TEXT_BANDS.has(band) ? "#333a1d" : "#fff";
+}
+
+/** The band colour as a light tint — used for unselected picker chips so every letter can share one dark ink. */
+export function bandTint(band: string, alpha = 0.22): string {
+  const hex = (EPC_SOFT[band] ?? "#9ca3af").slice(1);
+  const [r, g, b] = [0, 2, 4].map((i) => parseInt(hex.slice(i, i + 2), 16));
+  return `rgba(${r}, ${g}, ${b}, ${alpha})`;
+}
+
 export const GOAL_DESCRIPTIONS: Record<string, string> = {
   [PORTFOLIO_GOALS.EPC]: "Bring every property up to a target band.",
   [PORTFOLIO_GOALS.CO2]: "Cut carbon as far as possible, within any budget you set.",
@@ -49,7 +61,7 @@ export function BandChip({ band, size = 34 }: { band: string; size?: number }) {
         height: size,
         fontSize: size / 2,
         background: EPC_SOFT[band],
-        color: DARK_TEXT_BANDS.has(band) ? "#333a1d" : "#fff",
+        color: bandInk(band),
         boxShadow: "inset 0 -10px 14px rgba(0,0,0,.12)",
       }}
     >