diff --git a/nextjs-app/app/globals.css b/nextjs-app/app/globals.css
index fded7f2..2c1ffdb 100644
--- a/nextjs-app/app/globals.css
+++ b/nextjs-app/app/globals.css
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ body {
     min-height: 100vh;
 }
 
-/* Subtle noise texture overlay */
+/* Subtle noise texture overlay - editorial paper feel */
 .noise-overlay {
     position: fixed;
     top: 0;
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ body {
     width: 100%;
     height: 100%;
     pointer-events: none;
-    opacity: 0.03;
+    opacity: 0.06;
     z-index: 1000;
     background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg viewBox='0 0 256 256' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%3E%3Cfilter id='noise'%3E%3CfeTurbulence type='fractalNoise' baseFrequency='0.9' numOctaves='4' stitchTiles='stitch'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Crect width='100%25' height='100%25' filter='url(%23noise)'/%3E%3C/svg%3E");
 }
diff --git a/nextjs-app/components/EmptyState.module.css b/nextjs-app/components/EmptyState.module.css
index c431950..c2cfa38 100644
--- a/nextjs-app/components/EmptyState.module.css
+++ b/nextjs-app/components/EmptyState.module.css
@@ -5,43 +5,53 @@
   justify-content: center;
   padding: 4rem 2rem;
   text-align: center;
-  background: white;
-  border: 2px dashed #e5e7eb;
-  border-radius: 12px;
+  background: var(--bg-card, white);
+  border: 2px solid var(--border-color, #e5dfd5);
+  border-radius: 16px;
   min-height: 400px;
+  box-shadow: var(--shadow-soft, 0 2px 8px rgba(26, 22, 18, 0.06));
 }
 
 .icon {
-  color: #d1d5db;
+  color: var(--text-muted, #8a847a);
   margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
+  opacity: 0.7;
 }
 
 .title {
-  margin: 0 0 0.5rem 0;
-  font-size: 1.25rem;
-  font-weight: 600;
-  color: #1f2937;
+  margin: 0 0 0.75rem 0;
+  font-size: 1.5rem;
+  font-weight: 700;
+  color: var(--text-primary, #1a1612);
+  font-family: var(--font-playfair), 'Playfair Display', serif;
 }
 
 .message {
-  margin: 0 0 1.5rem 0;
+  margin: 0 0 2rem 0;
   font-size: 1rem;
-  color: #6b7280;
+  color: var(--text-secondary, #5c564d);
   max-width: 500px;
+  line-height: 1.6;
 }
 
 .button {
-  padding: 0.75rem 1.5rem;
+  padding: 0.875rem 2rem;
   font-size: 1rem;
-  font-weight: 500;
-  background: #3b82f6;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  background: var(--accent-coral, #e07256);
   color: white;
   border: none;
-  border-radius: 6px;
+  border-radius: 8px;
   cursor: pointer;
   transition: all 0.2s ease;
 }
 
 .button:hover {
-  background: #2563eb;
+  background: var(--accent-coral-dark, #c45a3f);
+  transform: translateY(-1px);
+  box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(224, 114, 86, 0.3);
+}
+
+.button:active {
+  transform: translateY(0);
 }
diff --git a/nextjs-app/components/HomeView.module.css b/nextjs-app/components/HomeView.module.css
index e6f7b66..202c2f4 100644
--- a/nextjs-app/components/HomeView.module.css
+++ b/nextjs-app/components/HomeView.module.css
@@ -12,11 +12,12 @@
 }
 
 .heroTitle {
-  font-size: 2.75rem;
+  font-size: 3rem;
   font-weight: 700;
   color: var(--text-primary, #1a1612);
   margin-bottom: 1rem;
-  line-height: 1.2;
+  line-height: 1.1;
+  letter-spacing: -0.02em;
   font-family: var(--font-playfair), 'Playfair Display', serif;
 }
 
@@ -58,11 +59,22 @@
 .sectionHeader h2 {
   font-size: 1.875rem;
   font-weight: 700;
-  margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
+  margin-bottom: 0.75rem;
   color: var(--text-primary, #1a1612);
   font-family: var(--font-playfair), 'Playfair Display', serif;
 }
 
+/* Decorative coral bar under section headings */
+.sectionHeader h2::after {
+  content: '';
+  display: block;
+  width: 60px;
+  height: 3px;
+  background: var(--accent-coral, #e07256);
+  border-radius: 2px;
+  margin-top: 0.75rem;
+}
+
 .sectionDescription {
   font-size: 1rem;
   color: var(--text-secondary, #5c564d);
@@ -102,6 +114,33 @@
   margin-bottom: 2rem;
 }
 
+/* Staggered grid entry animation */
+.grid > * {
+  animation: gridItemFadeIn 0.4s ease-out both;
+}
+
+.grid > *:nth-child(1) { animation-delay: 0ms; }
+.grid > *:nth-child(2) { animation-delay: 50ms; }
+.grid > *:nth-child(3) { animation-delay: 100ms; }
+.grid > *:nth-child(4) { animation-delay: 150ms; }
+.grid > *:nth-child(5) { animation-delay: 200ms; }
+.grid > *:nth-child(6) { animation-delay: 250ms; }
+.grid > *:nth-child(7) { animation-delay: 300ms; }
+.grid > *:nth-child(8) { animation-delay: 350ms; }
+.grid > *:nth-child(9) { animation-delay: 400ms; }
+.grid > *:nth-child(n+10) { animation-delay: 450ms; }
+
+@keyframes gridItemFadeIn {
+  from {
+    opacity: 0;
+    transform: translateY(16px);
+  }
+  to {
+    opacity: 1;
+    transform: translateY(0);
+  }
+}
+
 .emptyState {
   text-align: center;
   padding: 4rem 2rem;
diff --git a/nextjs-app/components/LoadingSkeleton.module.css b/nextjs-app/components/LoadingSkeleton.module.css
index 4fe32c7..ba0da7f 100644
--- a/nextjs-app/components/LoadingSkeleton.module.css
+++ b/nextjs-app/components/LoadingSkeleton.module.css
@@ -5,17 +5,23 @@
 }
 
 .skeletonCard {
-  background: white;
-  border: 1px solid #e5e7eb;
-  border-radius: 8px;
+  background: var(--bg-card, white);
+  border: 1px solid var(--border-color, #e5dfd5);
+  border-radius: 12px;
   padding: 1.5rem;
+  box-shadow: var(--shadow-soft, 0 2px 8px rgba(26, 22, 18, 0.06));
 }
 
 .skeleton {
-  background: linear-gradient(90deg, #f3f4f6 25%, #e5e7eb 50%, #f3f4f6 75%);
+  background: linear-gradient(
+    90deg,
+    var(--bg-secondary, #f3ede4) 25%,
+    rgba(224, 114, 86, 0.08) 50%,
+    var(--bg-secondary, #f3ede4) 75%
+  );
   background-size: 200% 100%;
-  animation: shimmer 1.5s infinite;
-  border-radius: 4px;
+  animation: shimmer 1.5s ease-in-out infinite;
+  border-radius: 6px;
 }
 
 @keyframes shimmer {
@@ -50,8 +56,8 @@
   gap: 1rem;
   margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
   padding: 1rem;
-  background: #f9fafb;
-  border-radius: 6px;
+  background: var(--bg-secondary, #f3ede4);
+  border-radius: 8px;
 }
 
 .metric {
@@ -76,10 +82,11 @@
 }
 
 .skeletonListItem {
-  background: white;
-  border: 1px solid #e5e7eb;
-  border-radius: 8px;
+  background: var(--bg-card, white);
+  border: 1px solid var(--border-color, #e5dfd5);
+  border-radius: 12px;
   padding: 1.5rem;
+  box-shadow: var(--shadow-soft, 0 2px 8px rgba(26, 22, 18, 0.06));
 }
 
 .listTitle {
diff --git a/nextjs-app/components/Navigation.module.css b/nextjs-app/components/Navigation.module.css
index e5ac220..73bad29 100644
--- a/nextjs-app/components/Navigation.module.css
+++ b/nextjs-app/components/Navigation.module.css
@@ -63,16 +63,39 @@
   transition: all 0.2s ease;
 }
 
+/* Sliding underline effect */
+.navLink::after {
+  content: '';
+  position: absolute;
+  bottom: 4px;
+  left: 1rem;
+  right: 1rem;
+  height: 2px;
+  background: var(--accent-coral, #e07256);
+  transform: scaleX(0);
+  transform-origin: left;
+  transition: transform 0.25s ease;
+  border-radius: 1px;
+}
+
 .navLink:hover {
   color: var(--text-primary, #1a1612);
   background: var(--bg-secondary, #f3ede4);
 }
 
+.navLink:hover::after {
+  transform: scaleX(1);
+}
+
 .navLink.active {
   color: var(--accent-coral, #e07256);
   background: rgba(224, 114, 86, 0.1);
 }
 
+.navLink.active::after {
+  transform: scaleX(1);
+}
+
 .badge {
   display: inline-flex;
   align-items: center;
@@ -85,6 +108,22 @@
   color: white;
   background: var(--accent-coral, #e07256);
   border-radius: 9999px;
+  animation: badgePop 0.3s ease-out;
+  box-shadow: 0 2px 6px rgba(224, 114, 86, 0.4);
+}
+
+@keyframes badgePop {
+  0% {
+    transform: scale(0.6);
+    opacity: 0;
+  }
+  50% {
+    transform: scale(1.2);
+  }
+  100% {
+    transform: scale(1);
+    opacity: 1;
+  }
 }
 
 @media (max-width: 640px) {
diff --git a/nextjs-app/components/Pagination.module.css b/nextjs-app/components/Pagination.module.css
index 9a5cbc7..919f34b 100644
--- a/nextjs-app/components/Pagination.module.css
+++ b/nextjs-app/components/Pagination.module.css
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 .info {
   font-size: 0.875rem;
-  color: #6b7280;
+  color: var(--text-muted, #8a847a);
 }
 
 .controls {
@@ -21,17 +21,18 @@
   padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
   font-size: 0.875rem;
   font-weight: 500;
-  background: white;
-  color: #374151;
-  border: 1px solid #d1d5db;
-  border-radius: 6px;
+  background: var(--bg-card, white);
+  color: var(--text-secondary, #5c564d);
+  border: 1px solid var(--border-color, #e5dfd5);
+  border-radius: 8px;
   cursor: pointer;
   transition: all 0.2s ease;
 }
 
 .navButton:hover:not(:disabled) {
-  background: #f9fafb;
-  border-color: #9ca3af;
+  background: var(--bg-secondary, #f3ede4);
+  border-color: var(--accent-coral, #e07256);
+  color: var(--text-primary, #1a1612);
 }
 
 .navButton:disabled {
@@ -50,26 +51,32 @@
   padding: 0.5rem 0.75rem;
   font-size: 0.875rem;
   font-weight: 500;
-  background: white;
-  border: 1px solid #d1d5db;
-  border-radius: 6px;
+  background: var(--bg-card, white);
+  border: 1px solid var(--border-color, #e5dfd5);
+  border-radius: 8px;
   cursor: pointer;
   transition: all 0.2s ease;
 }
 
 .pageButton {
-  color: #374151;
+  color: var(--text-secondary, #5c564d);
 }
 
 .pageButton:hover {
-  background: #f9fafb;
-  border-color: #9ca3af;
+  background: var(--bg-secondary, #f3ede4);
+  border-color: var(--accent-coral, #e07256);
+  color: var(--text-primary, #1a1612);
 }
 
 .pageButtonActive {
-  background: #3b82f6;
+  background: var(--accent-coral, #e07256);
   color: white;
-  border-color: #3b82f6;
+  border-color: var(--accent-coral, #e07256);
+}
+
+.pageButtonActive:hover {
+  background: var(--accent-coral-dark, #c45a3f);
+  border-color: var(--accent-coral-dark, #c45a3f);
 }
 
 .ellipsis {
@@ -77,7 +84,7 @@
   align-items: center;
   padding: 0.5rem 0.75rem;
   font-size: 0.875rem;
-  color: #9ca3af;
+  color: var(--text-muted, #8a847a);
 }
 
 @media (max-width: 640px) {
diff --git a/nextjs-app/components/RankingsView.module.css b/nextjs-app/components/RankingsView.module.css
index 66eb8cf..f3a3ae0 100644
--- a/nextjs-app/components/RankingsView.module.css
+++ b/nextjs-app/components/RankingsView.module.css
@@ -143,6 +143,11 @@
   border-bottom: none;
 }
 
+/* Alternating row backgrounds for visual rhythm */
+.rankingsTable tbody tr:nth-child(even) {
+  background: rgba(243, 237, 228, 0.5);
+}
+
 .rankingsTable tbody tr:hover {
   background: var(--bg-secondary, #f3ede4);
 }
@@ -168,14 +173,51 @@
   color: var(--text-primary, #1a1612);
 }
 
-.medal {
-  font-size: 1.5rem;
-  line-height: 1;
+/* Styled rank badges for top 3 */
+.rankBadge {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  width: 36px;
+  height: 36px;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  font-size: 1rem;
+  font-weight: 700;
+  color: white;
+  box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15);
+  position: relative;
+}
+
+.rankBadge::before {
+  content: '';
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: -2px;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  border: 2px solid transparent;
+  background: linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.4), transparent) border-box;
+  mask: linear-gradient(#fff 0 0) padding-box, linear-gradient(#fff 0 0);
+  mask-composite: exclude;
+  -webkit-mask-composite: xor;
+}
+
+.rankBadge1 {
+  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #c9a227 0%, #e8c547 50%, #c9a227 100%);
+  text-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);
+}
+
+.rankBadge2 {
+  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #8c8c8c 0%, #c0c0c0 50%, #8c8c8c 100%);
+  text-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);
+}
+
+.rankBadge3 {
+  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #a5673f 0%, #cd7f32 50%, #a5673f 100%);
+  text-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);
 }
 
 .rankNumber {
   font-size: 1rem;
-  color: var(--accent-gold, #c9a227);
+  color: var(--text-secondary, #5c564d);
 }
 
 .schoolCell {
@@ -280,8 +322,10 @@
     padding: 0.75rem 0.5rem;
   }
 
-  .medal {
-    font-size: 1.25rem;
+  .rankBadge {
+    width: 30px;
+    height: 30px;
+    font-size: 0.875rem;
   }
 
   .schoolHeader {
diff --git a/nextjs-app/components/RankingsView.tsx b/nextjs-app/components/RankingsView.tsx
index eac2334..a8f6b94 100644
--- a/nextjs-app/components/RankingsView.tsx
+++ b/nextjs-app/components/RankingsView.tsx
@@ -188,14 +188,13 @@ export function RankingsView({
                       className={isTopThree ? styles[`rank${rank}`] : ''}
                     >
                       <td className={styles.rankCell}>
-                        {isTopThree && (
-                          <span className={styles.medal}>
-                            {rank === 1 && '🥇'}
-                            {rank === 2 && '🥈'}
-                            {rank === 3 && '🥉'}
+                        {isTopThree ? (
+                          <span className={`${styles.rankBadge} ${styles[`rankBadge${rank}`]}`}>
+                            {rank}
                           </span>
+                        ) : (
+                          <span className={styles.rankNumber}>{rank}</span>
                         )}
-                        <span className={styles.rankNumber}>{rank}</span>
                       </td>
                       <td className={styles.schoolCell}>
                         <a href={`/school/${ranking.urn}`} className={styles.schoolLink}>
diff --git a/nextjs-app/components/SchoolCard.module.css b/nextjs-app/components/SchoolCard.module.css
index d498567..229eae2 100644
--- a/nextjs-app/components/SchoolCard.module.css
+++ b/nextjs-app/components/SchoolCard.module.css
@@ -101,9 +101,38 @@
 }
 
 .trend {
-  font-size: 1rem;
-  font-weight: bold;
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  width: 20px;
+  height: 20px;
+  border-radius: 4px;
   cursor: help;
+  transition: transform 0.2s ease;
+}
+
+.trend:hover {
+  transform: scale(1.15);
+}
+
+.trendIcon {
+  width: 12px;
+  height: 12px;
+}
+
+.trendUp {
+  color: var(--accent-teal, #2d7d7d);
+  background: rgba(45, 125, 125, 0.15);
+}
+
+.trendDown {
+  color: var(--accent-coral, #e07256);
+  background: rgba(224, 114, 86, 0.15);
+}
+
+.trendStable {
+  color: var(--text-muted, #8a847a);
+  background: rgba(138, 132, 122, 0.15);
 }
 
 .actions {
diff --git a/nextjs-app/components/SchoolCard.tsx b/nextjs-app/components/SchoolCard.tsx
index 0b3cc46..593e214 100644
--- a/nextjs-app/components/SchoolCard.tsx
+++ b/nextjs-app/components/SchoolCard.tsx
@@ -55,11 +55,30 @@ export function SchoolCard({ school, onAddToCompare, showDistance, distance }: S
                 <strong>{formatPercentage(school.rwm_expected_pct)}</strong>
                 {school.prev_rwm_expected_pct !== null && (
                   <span
-                    className={styles.trend}
-                    style={{ color: trendColor }}
+                    className={`${styles.trend} ${styles[`trend${trend.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + trend.slice(1)}`]}`}
                     title={`Previous: ${formatPercentage(school.prev_rwm_expected_pct)}`}
                   >
-                    {trend === 'up' ? '↑' : trend === 'down' ? '↓' : '→'}
+                    {trend === 'up' && (
+                      <svg viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="none" className={styles.trendIcon}>
+                        <path
+                          d="M8 3L14 10H2L8 3Z"
+                          fill="currentColor"
+                        />
+                      </svg>
+                    )}
+                    {trend === 'down' && (
+                      <svg viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="none" className={styles.trendIcon}>
+                        <path
+                          d="M8 13L2 6H14L8 13Z"
+                          fill="currentColor"
+                        />
+                      </svg>
+                    )}
+                    {trend === 'stable' && (
+                      <svg viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="none" className={styles.trendIcon}>
+                        <rect x="2" y="7" width="12" height="2" rx="1" fill="currentColor" />
+                      </svg>
+                    )}
                   </span>
                 )}
               </div>