feat(workspaces): rework tile-grid visuals — Start-screen polish

The home canvas now reads as a real Windows 8 Start screen instead of a
cramped, edge-hugging list:

- Geometry: the wide unit is DERIVED from the canvas height (4 rows fill
  it: unit=height/5 clamped to 112-184px, gap=unit/9, margin=unit/3 clamped
  24-64px) — tiles are no longer tiny, and the tile field always carries a
  proportional outer margin (never compressed against the left edge). Tall
  mode keeps fluid columns with a taller 148px row + 12px gap.
- Tiles take a per-workspace SATURATED tone (new pure tileTone(id): FNV-1a
  hash → one of the six theme-semantic colors) with tone-content text —
  the Win8 colored-tile identity. Starred is now a ★ badge (a tile keeps
  its own color), not a gray-tint override.
- The tile face is the Win8 layout: small uppercase slug caption at the top,
  a bold span-aware title (lg → 3xl across 1×1 → 4×2), and a single-line
  stat row pinned to the bottom (count compacts to 'conv.' on 1×1 tiles,
  truncation-safe so narrow tiles never clip).
- Selection is a high-contrast offset ring (visible on any tile color);
  tiles lift on hover; the pan arrow is a solid elevated circle.
- Header gains a 'WORKSPACES' kicker; empty/loading states are centered
  and styled for the Start-screen canvas.

Persisted data (order + spans only) and all interaction semantics
(drag/FLIP, long-press, action bar, resize picker, create popover) are
untouched. Tests: geometry derivation/clamping, tileTone determinism,
wide-vs-compact count label — 1664 green.

9 files changed, 276 insertions, 49 deletions

diff --git a/src/features/workspaces/logic/tile-layout.test.ts b/src/features/workspaces/logic/tile-layout.test.ts
index f2fbc5b..be61da4 100644
--- a/src/features/workspaces/logic/tile-layout.test.ts
+++ b/src/features/workspaces/logic/tile-layout.test.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,44 @@ describe("geometryFor", () => {
   it("resolves degenerate (unmeasured) sizes to wide", () => {
     expect(geometryFor(0, 0).mode).toBe("wide");
   });
+
+  it("derives the wide unit from the canvas height so the 4 rows fill it", () => {
+    // 4·unit + 3·gap + 2·margin ≈ height: an 800px canvas gets ~160px tiles,
+    // NOT the old fixed 120px (the "squares are so small" complaint).
+    const geometry = geometryFor(1440, 800);
+    const filled = 4 * geometry.unit.height + 3 * geometry.unit.gap + 2 * geometry.margin;
+    expect(geometry.unit.height).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(140);
+    expect(Math.abs(filled - 800)).toBeLessThanOrEqual(8);
+    expect(geometry.unit.width).toBe(geometry.unit.height);
+  });
+
+  it("clamps the wide unit to its band on very short and very tall canvases", () => {
+    const short = geometryFor(1200, 300);
+    const huge = geometryFor(5000, 4000); // wide (width ≥ height) with a huge height
+    expect(short.unit.height).toBe(112);
+    expect(huge.unit.height).toBe(184);
+    // The margin never collapses (the "no margins" complaint) nor dominates.
+    expect(short.margin).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(24);
+    expect(huge.margin).toBeLessThanOrEqual(64);
+  });
+
+  it("always carries a positive margin (the tile field never hugs the edge)", () => {
+    const sizes: [number, number][] = [
+      [1920, 1080],
+      [390, 844],
+      [0, 0],
+      [1200, 300],
+    ];
+    for (const [w, h] of sizes) {
+      expect(geometryFor(w, h).margin).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("keeps the tall unit fixed with a gap (its columns are fluid)", () => {
+    expect(TALL.unit.width).toBe(0);
+    expect(TALL.unit.height).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(120);
+    expect(TALL.unit.gap).toBeGreaterThan(8);
+  });
 });
 
 describe("clampSpan", () => {
@@ -429,12 +467,15 @@ describe("geometry-agnostic persistence", () => {
 
 describe("type surface", () => {
   it("exposes the geometry fields the picker and grid need", () => {
+    // A 500px-tall canvas: the raw unit (100) clamps UP to the 112px minimum,
+    // so the gap is 12px and the margin 37px (never the old fixed 8px gap).
     const geometry: GridGeometry = geometryFor(1000, 500);
-    expect([geometry.mode, geometry.flowRows, geometry.flowCols, geometry.unit.gap]).toEqual([
-      "wide",
-      4,
-      0,
-      8,
-    ]);
+    expect([
+      geometry.mode,
+      geometry.flowRows,
+      geometry.flowCols,
+      geometry.unit.gap,
+      geometry.margin,
+    ]).toEqual(["wide", 4, 0, 12, 37]);
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/features/workspaces/logic/tile-layout.ts b/src/features/workspaces/logic/tile-layout.ts
index 17923c0..4d81a0c 100644
--- a/src/features/workspaces/logic/tile-layout.ts
+++ b/src/features/workspaces/logic/tile-layout.ts
@@ -46,6 +46,13 @@ export interface GridGeometry {
   /** Maximum vertical span a tile may occupy in this geometry. */
   readonly maxRowSpan: number;
   readonly unit: TileUnitSize;
+  /**
+   * The breathing room around the whole tile field — the grid never renders
+   * flush against the canvas edge. In wide mode the scroller pads all four
+   * sides by this amount (the pan arrow/scroll indicator offset inward by it
+   * too); in tall mode it insets the two fluid columns horizontally.
+   */
+  readonly margin: number;
 }
 
 /** One persisted tile: which workspace it pins, how big it wants to be, and its manual position in the order. */
@@ -82,14 +89,41 @@ export interface Span {
 /** The viewport assumed before the canvas has been measured (a landscape desktop). */
 export const DEFAULT_VIEWPORT = { width: 1280, height: 800 } as const;
 
-const WIDE_UNIT: TileUnitSize = { width: 128, height: 120, gap: 8 };
-const TALL_UNIT: TileUnitSize = { width: 0, height: 120, gap: 8 };
+/**
+ * The wide unit's clamp band (px). Tiles FILL the canvas' height across the 4
+ * fixed rows (the Start-screen feel), but never shrink below a legible small
+ * tile nor grow past a comfortable large one.
+ */
+const WIDE_UNIT_MIN = 112;
+const WIDE_UNIT_MAX = 184;
+
+/** The wide canvas' outer margin band (px) — proportional to the unit size. */
+const WIDE_MARGIN_MIN = 24;
+const WIDE_MARGIN_MAX = 64;
+
+/** The tall unit: the two fluid columns size in `1fr` (width `0` = fluid). */
+const TALL_UNIT: TileUnitSize = { width: 0, height: 148, gap: 12 };
+const TALL_MARGIN = 16;
+
+/** Round to whole pixels (fractional track sizes blur tile edges). */
+function px(value: number): number {
+  return Math.round(value);
+}
+
+function clampNumber(value: number, min: number, max: number): number {
+  return Math.max(min, Math.min(max, value));
+}
 
 /**
  * Resolve the grid geometry from the tile canvas' size. Landscape/desktop →
- * WIDE (4 fixed ~120px rows, column-wise flow, 4×2 span cap); portrait/mobile
- * → TALL (2 fixed columns, row-wise flow, 2×2 span cap). Degenerate sizes
- * (not yet measured) resolve to wide. Pure: numbers in, geometry out.
+ * WIDE (4 fixed rows, column-wise flow, 4×2 span cap); portrait/mobile → TALL
+ * (2 fixed columns, row-wise flow, 2×2 span cap). Degenerate sizes (not yet
+ * measured) resolve to wide.
+ *
+ * The wide unit is DERIVED from the canvas height so the 4 rows exactly fill
+ * it (unit + margin + gap all proportional, clamped to their bands); the tall
+ * unit is fixed (its columns are fluid instead). Pure: numbers in, geometry
+ * out.
  */
 export function geometryFor(width: number, height: number): GridGeometry {
   const tall = width > 0 && height > 0 && height > width;
@@ -101,15 +135,24 @@ export function geometryFor(width: number, height: number): GridGeometry {
       maxColSpan: 2,
       maxRowSpan: 2,
       unit: TALL_UNIT,
+      margin: TALL_MARGIN,
     };
   }
+  // Solve 4·unit + 3·gap + 2·margin = height with gap = unit/9 and margin =
+  // unit/3: 4u + u/3 + 2u/3 = 5u → u = height/5. Unmeasured (height ≤ 0) →
+  // the band's middle, not a tiny tile.
+  const raw = height > 0 ? height / 5 : (WIDE_UNIT_MIN + WIDE_UNIT_MAX) / 2;
+  const unit = px(clampNumber(raw, WIDE_UNIT_MIN, WIDE_UNIT_MAX));
+  const gap = Math.max(10, px(unit / 9));
+  const margin = px(clampNumber(unit / 3, WIDE_MARGIN_MIN, WIDE_MARGIN_MAX));
   return {
     mode: "wide",
     flowRows: 4,
     flowCols: 0,
     maxColSpan: 4,
     maxRowSpan: 2,
-    unit: WIDE_UNIT,
+    unit: { width: unit, height: unit, gap },
+    margin,
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/src/features/workspaces/logic/view-model.test.ts b/src/features/workspaces/logic/view-model.test.ts
index 44d2f31..d283481 100644
--- a/src/features/workspaces/logic/view-model.test.ts
+++ b/src/features/workspaces/logic/view-model.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,32 @@
 import type { WorkspaceEntry } from "@dispatch/wire";
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
-import { applyStarred, pageTitle, relativeTime, sortWorkspaces } from "./view-model";
+import { applyStarred, pageTitle, relativeTime, sortWorkspaces, tileTone } from "./view-model";
+
+describe("tileTone", () => {
+  const TONES = ["primary", "secondary", "accent", "info", "success", "warning"];
+
+  it("is deterministic — the same id always gets the same tone", () => {
+    expect(tileTone("my-workspace")).toBe(tileTone("my-workspace"));
+  });
+
+  it("only returns known tones", () => {
+    for (const id of ["default", "a", "my-workspace", "x-1", "project-phoenix", "zzz"]) {
+      expect(TONES).toContain(tileTone(id));
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("spreads distinct ids across more than one tone", () => {
+    const tones = new Set(
+      ["default", "alpha", "beta", "gamma", "delta", "epsilon", "zeta", "eta"].map(tileTone),
+    );
+    expect(tones.size).toBeGreaterThan(1);
+  });
+
+  it("is case-sensitive (ids are slugs, but the hash makes no normalization promise)", () => {
+    // Not a correctness requirement — just documents the hash reads raw chars.
+    expect(typeof tileTone("ABC")).toBe("string");
+  });
+});
 
 describe("relativeTime", () => {
   const now = 1_000_000_000_000; // 2001-09-09
diff --git a/src/features/workspaces/logic/view-model.ts b/src/features/workspaces/logic/view-model.ts
index b994b7c..0b9f239 100644
--- a/src/features/workspaces/logic/view-model.ts
+++ b/src/features/workspaces/logic/view-model.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,40 @@ import type { WorkspaceEntry } from "@dispatch/wire";
 import type { Route } from "./route";
 
 /**
+ * A home tile's color tone. Windows 8's Start screen gave every tile its own
+ * saturated color; here the tile's workspace id DETERMINISTICALLY picks one of
+ * the theme's six semantic tones, so the same workspace keeps its color across
+ * sessions and themes (the tone name maps to a DaisyUI color, which adapts to
+ * the active theme). Starred stays a separate visual concern (a badge), NOT a
+ * tone — any tile may be starred regardless of its color.
+ */
+export type TileTone = "primary" | "secondary" | "accent" | "info" | "success" | "warning";
+
+/** The tones a tile may take, in hash order. */
+const TILE_TONES: readonly TileTone[] = [
+  "primary",
+  "secondary",
+  "accent",
+  "info",
+  "success",
+  "warning",
+];
+
+/**
+ * Map a workspace id to its tile tone. Deterministic (FNV-1a hash of the id)
+ * and uniformly distributed across the six tones — pure: id in, tone out.
+ */
+export function tileTone(id: string): TileTone {
+  let hash = 0x811c9dc5;
+  for (let index = 0; index < id.length; index++) {
+    hash ^= id.charCodeAt(index);
+    // FNV prime (16777619), kept in 32-bit unsigned range.
+    hash = Math.imul(hash, 0x01000193) >>> 0;
+  }
+  return TILE_TONES[hash % TILE_TONES.length] ?? "primary";
+}
+
+/**
  * The browser tab / page (`document.title`) text for a route. The home route
  * (`/`) is "Dispatch"; a workspace route (`/<id>`) is "Dispatch: {title}",
  * using the workspace's display title and falling back to the URL slug (`id`)
diff --git a/src/features/workspaces/ui/HomeHeader.svelte b/src/features/workspaces/ui/HomeHeader.svelte
index 01ac63f..be630d2 100644
--- a/src/features/workspaces/ui/HomeHeader.svelte
+++ b/src/features/workspaces/ui/HomeHeader.svelte
@@ -65,8 +65,13 @@
   }
 </script>
 
-<header class="flex shrink-0 items-center justify-between gap-2 px-6 py-4">
-  <h1 class="text-3xl font-black tracking-tight">Dispatch</h1>
+<header class="flex shrink-0 items-end justify-between gap-2 px-8 pt-6 pb-4 md:px-12">
+  <div class="flex items-baseline gap-3">
+    <h1 class="text-4xl font-black tracking-tight">Dispatch</h1>
+    <span class="hidden text-sm font-medium tracking-widest uppercase opacity-40 sm:inline">
+      Workspaces
+    </span>
+  </div>
 
   <div class="flex items-center gap-2" class:gap-1={compact}>
     <!-- New workspace -->
diff --git a/src/features/workspaces/ui/HomeTileGrid.svelte b/src/features/workspaces/ui/HomeTileGrid.svelte
index e29b9b1..ceae133 100644
--- a/src/features/workspaces/ui/HomeTileGrid.svelte
+++ b/src/features/workspaces/ui/HomeTileGrid.svelte
@@ -2,9 +2,25 @@
   import type { WorkspaceEntry } from "@dispatch/wire";
   import { nextDragPhase, type DragEvent, type DragPhase } from "../logic/drag-controller";
   import type { GridGeometry, Placement, Span } from "../logic/tile-layout";
+  import { tileTone, type TileTone } from "../logic/view-model";
   import type { WorkspaceStore } from "../store.svelte";
   import WorkspaceTile from "./WorkspaceTile.svelte";
 
+  /**
+   * The Start-screen tile tones (static classes — Tailwind/DaisyUI must see
+   * the literal `bg-*`/`text-*-content` names to emit them). A tile is its
+   * tone's SATURATED color with the tone's `-content` text, like Win8's
+   * colored tiles on the dark Start canvas.
+   */
+  const TONE_CLASSES: Record<TileTone, string> = {
+    primary: "bg-primary text-primary-content border-primary",
+    secondary: "bg-secondary text-secondary-content border-secondary",
+    accent: "bg-accent text-accent-content border-accent",
+    info: "bg-info text-info-content border-info",
+    success: "bg-success text-success-content border-success",
+    warning: "bg-warning text-warning-content border-warning",
+  };
+
   let {
     geometry,
     placements,
@@ -222,7 +238,7 @@
     class="h-full overscroll-contain"
     class:overflow-x-auto={geometry.mode === "wide"}
     class:overflow-y-auto={geometry.mode === "tall"}
-    style={`scroll-snap-type: ${geometry.mode === "wide" ? "x" : "y"} proximity;`}
+    style={`padding: ${geometry.margin}px; scroll-snap-type: ${geometry.mode === "wide" ? "x" : "y"} proximity;`}
     onscroll={updateScroll}
     onwheel={handleWheel}
   >
@@ -233,12 +249,12 @@
           <!-- svelte-ignore a11y_no_static_element_interactions, a11y_click_events_have_key_events -->
           <div
             data-tile-id={placement.id}
-            class={`flex select-none flex-col overflow-hidden rounded-box border transition-colors ${
-              selectedId === placement.id ? "border-primary/50 ring-2 ring-primary" : ""
+            class={`flex select-none flex-col overflow-hidden rounded-box border shadow-md transition-[transform,box-shadow] duration-150 hover:-translate-y-0.5 hover:shadow-xl ${
+              TONE_CLASSES[tileTone(placement.id)]
             } ${
-              ws.starred
-                ? "border-primary/40 bg-primary/20"
-                : "border-base-content/10 bg-base-200"
+              selectedId === placement.id
+                ? "ring-4 ring-base-content/80 ring-offset-2 ring-offset-base-100"
+                : "border-transparent"
             } ${phase.kind === "dragging" && phase.id === placement.id ? "opacity-40" : ""}`}
             style={`${wrapperStyle(placement)} scroll-snap-align: start;`}
             role="button"
@@ -277,17 +293,22 @@
   </div>
 
   {#if canPan}
-    <!-- Pan arrow + thin scroll-position indicator (wide geometry only). -->
+    <!-- Pan arrow + thin scroll-position indicator (wide geometry only).
+         Both sit INSIDE the canvas' outer margin. -->
     <button
       type="button"
-      class="btn btn-circle btn-sm absolute right-3 bottom-3 z-10 border-base-content/20 bg-base-100/80 shadow-lg"
+      class="btn btn-circle absolute z-10 border-none bg-base-100 text-base-content shadow-xl"
+      style={`right: ${Math.max(12, geometry.margin / 2)}px; bottom: ${Math.max(12, geometry.margin / 2)}px;`}
       aria-label="Pan right"
       title="Pan one screen sideways"
       onclick={pan}
     >
       →
     </button>
-    <div class="absolute inset-x-0 bottom-0 z-10 h-0.5 bg-base-content/10">
+    <div
+      class="absolute right-0 bottom-0 left-0 z-10 h-0.5 bg-base-content/10"
+      style={`margin: 0 ${geometry.margin}px;`}
+    >
       <div
         class="h-full bg-primary transition-[width] duration-100"
         style={`width: ${Math.round(scrollProgress * 100)}%;`}
@@ -299,7 +320,7 @@
 {#if phase.kind === "dragging"}
   <!-- The drag ghost follows the pointer (transient; never a data change). -->
   <div
-    class="pointer-events-none fixed z-50 rounded-box border border-primary bg-primary/30 px-3 py-2 text-sm font-bold shadow-2xl"
+    class="pointer-events-none fixed z-50 rounded-box border border-base-content/25 bg-base-100/95 px-3 py-2 text-sm font-bold shadow-2xl"
     style={`left: ${phase.x + 10}px; top: ${phase.y + 10}px;`}
   >
     {workspacesById.get(phase.id)?.title ?? phase.id}
diff --git a/src/features/workspaces/ui/WorkspaceTile.svelte b/src/features/workspaces/ui/WorkspaceTile.svelte
index 4059690..3894b26 100644
--- a/src/features/workspaces/ui/WorkspaceTile.svelte
+++ b/src/features/workspaces/ui/WorkspaceTile.svelte
@@ -63,14 +63,53 @@
 
   // The face's semantic key (tests read it).
   const faceKey = $derived(`tile-${placement.id}`);
+
+  // Span-aware face: bigger footprints get more air + bigger type (all styles
+  // static so Tailwind sees them).
+  const wide = $derived(placement.colSpan > 1);
+  const tall = $derived(placement.rowSpan > 1);
+  const facePadding = $derived(wide || tall ? "p-5" : "p-4");
+  const titleClass = $derived(
+    wide && tall
+      ? "text-3xl leading-tight line-clamp-3"
+      : wide
+        ? "text-2xl leading-snug line-clamp-2"
+        : tall
+          ? "text-xl leading-snug line-clamp-4"
+          : "text-lg leading-snug line-clamp-3",
+  );
+  /** 1×1 tiles are tight: "20 conv." — wider tiles spell "conversations" out. */
+  const countLabel = $derived(
+    ws.conversationCount === 1 ? (wide ? "conversation" : "conv.") : wide ? "conversations" : "conv.",
+  );
 </script>
 
-<div data-tile-face={faceKey} class="flex h-full w-full flex-col gap-1 p-3">
+<div data-tile-face={faceKey} class={`relative flex h-full w-full flex-col ${facePadding}`}>
+  <!-- The slug label at the very top — the Win8 tile's small "app" caption. -->
+  <div class="flex items-center gap-1.5 text-[11px] font-semibold tracking-wider uppercase">
+    <span class="truncate opacity-70">/{ws.id}</span>
+    {#if active}
+      <span
+        class="loading loading-dots loading-xs shrink-0"
+        aria-label="Workspace has active conversations"
+        title="A conversation in this workspace is generating"></span>
+    {/if}
+  </div>
+
+  {#if ws.starred}
+    <!-- Starred is a badge, not a tint — the tone stays the tile's identity. -->
+    <span
+      class="absolute top-2.5 right-3 text-lg leading-none opacity-90"
+      aria-label="Starred workspace"
+      title="Starred — priority in the agent queue">★</span
+    >
+  {/if}
+
   {#if editing}
     <input
       bind:this={titleInput}
       bind:value={titleDraft}
-      class="input input-bordered input-sm"
+      class="input input-sm mt-2 w-full border-current/40 bg-black/25 text-inherit placeholder:text-current/50"
       aria-label="Workspace title"
       onkeydown={(e) => {
         if (e.key === "Enter") void saveTitle();
@@ -81,29 +120,30 @@
   {:else}
     <!-- svelte-ignore a11y_no_static_element_interactions, a11y_click_events_have_key_events -->
     <span
-      class="line-clamp-2 cursor-default text-lg leading-tight font-bold"
+      class={`mt-1 cursor-default font-bold ${titleClass}`}
       title="Double-click to rename"
       ondblclick={startEdit}>{ws.title}</span
     >
   {/if}
 
-  <span class="font-mono text-xs opacity-50">/{ws.id}</span>
-
   {#if titleError}
-    <p class="text-xs text-error">{titleError}</p>
+    <p class="mt-1 text-xs font-semibold">{titleError}</p>
   {/if}
 
-  <div class="mt-auto flex items-center gap-2 text-xs opacity-80">
-    {#if active}
-      <span
-        class="loading loading-dots loading-xs shrink-0 text-primary"
-        aria-label="Workspace has active conversations"
-        title="A conversation in this workspace is generating"></span>
-    {/if}
-    <span>
-      {ws.conversationCount}
-      {ws.conversationCount === 1 ? "conversation" : "conversations"}
+  <!-- The stat line pinned to the tile's bottom edge, like a live tile's
+       status row. Single-line, truncation-safe (narrow 1×1 tiles stay clean). -->
+  <div
+    class="mt-auto flex items-center gap-2 overflow-hidden border-t border-current/20 pt-2 text-xs font-medium whitespace-nowrap"
+  >
+    <span class="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-1.5">
+      <span aria-hidden="true" class="shrink-0 opacity-70">◱</span>
+      <span class="truncate">
+        {ws.conversationCount}
+        {countLabel}
+      </span>
+    </span>
+    <span class="ml-auto shrink-0 font-mono opacity-70">
+      {relativeTime(ws.lastActivityAt, Date.now())}
     </span>
-    <span class="ml-auto font-mono opacity-70">{relativeTime(ws.lastActivityAt, Date.now())}</span>
   </div>
 </div>
diff --git a/src/features/workspaces/ui/WorkspaceTile.test.ts b/src/features/workspaces/ui/WorkspaceTile.test.ts
index 918aa1c..b76f709 100644
--- a/src/features/workspaces/ui/WorkspaceTile.test.ts
+++ b/src/features/workspaces/ui/WorkspaceTile.test.ts
@@ -48,10 +48,23 @@ describe("WorkspaceTile", () => {
     });
     expect(screen.getByText("My Workspace")).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.getByText("/my-ws")).toBeInTheDocument();
-    expect(screen.getByText(/3 conversations/)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    // A 1×1 tile is tight: the count compacts to "conv." (wide tiles spell it out).
+    expect(screen.getByText(/3 conv\./)).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.getByText("1m")).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
+  it("spells out 'conversations' on a wide tile", () => {
+    render(WorkspaceTile, {
+      props: {
+        ws: fakeEntry(),
+        store: fakeStore(),
+        placement: fakePlacement({ colSpan: 2, rowSpan: 1 }),
+        onRenameEnd: () => {},
+      },
+    });
+    expect(screen.getByText(/3 conversations/)).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
   it("shows the active indicator only when the active port says so", async () => {
     const { container, rerender } = render(WorkspaceTile, {
       props: {
diff --git a/src/features/workspaces/ui/WorkspacesHome.svelte b/src/features/workspaces/ui/WorkspacesHome.svelte
index 276a811..cbf762f 100644
--- a/src/features/workspaces/ui/WorkspacesHome.svelte
+++ b/src/features/workspaces/ui/WorkspacesHome.svelte
@@ -248,14 +248,18 @@
 
   <div bind:this={regionEl} class="min-h-0 w-full flex-1">
     {#if store.loading && store.list.length === 0}
-      <div class="flex h-32 items-center justify-center">
-        <span class="loading loading-spinner loading-sm opacity-60"></span>
+      <div class="flex h-full items-center justify-center">
+        <span class="loading loading-spinner loading-lg opacity-60"></span>
       </div>
     {:else if store.list.length === 0}
-      <p class="py-8 text-center text-sm opacity-60">
-        No workspaces yet. Create one with <strong>New workspace</strong> above, or visit
-        <code>/your-name</code> in the URL.
-      </p>
+      <div class="flex h-full flex-col items-center justify-center gap-3 px-6 text-center">
+        <p class="text-2xl font-black tracking-tight opacity-80">No workspaces yet</p>
+        <p class="max-w-md text-sm opacity-60">
+          Create one with <strong>New workspace</strong> above, or visit
+          <code class="rounded bg-base-200 px-1.5 py-0.5">/your-name</code> in the URL — the first
+          tile drops onto the canvas ready to rename.
+        </p>
+      </div>
     {:else}
       <HomeTileGrid
         {geometry}