diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/CallScreen.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/CallScreen.kt
index fb3487a..487210d 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/CallScreen.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/CallScreen.kt
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package io.flamenet.messenger.app
 
 import androidx.compose.foundation.background
 import androidx.compose.foundation.border
+import androidx.compose.foundation.clickable
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Arrangement
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Box
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Column
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@ import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.height
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.padding
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.size
 import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.CircleShape
+import androidx.compose.material3.Icon
 import androidx.compose.material3.MaterialTheme
 import androidx.compose.material3.Text
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
@@ -27,7 +29,6 @@ import androidx.compose.ui.text.font.FontWeight
 import androidx.compose.ui.text.style.TextAlign
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.sp
-import androidx.compose.foundation.clickable
 
 /**
  * A call, as a screen.
@@ -135,7 +136,7 @@ fun CallScreenBody(
 /** One control on the call screen. */
 data class CallAction(
     val id: String,
-    val symbol: String,
+    val symbol: androidx.compose.ui.graphics.vector.ImageVector,
     val label: String,
     val isPrimary: Boolean = false,
     val tint: Color? = null,
@@ -156,10 +157,11 @@ private fun CallButton(action: CallAction, diameter: androidx.compose.ui.unit.Dp
                 .testTag("call-${action.id}"),
             contentAlignment = Alignment.Center,
         ) {
-            Text(
+            Icon(
                 action.symbol,
-                fontSize = (diameter.value * 0.36f).sp,
-                color = action.iconColor ?: MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurface,
+                contentDescription = null,
+                tint = action.iconColor ?: MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurface,
+                modifier = Modifier.size(diameter * 0.42f),
             )
         }
         Spacer(Modifier.height(6.dp))
@@ -191,25 +193,25 @@ fun LiveCallScreen(model: MessengerViewModel, phase: MessengerViewModel.Phase.Si
 
     val actions = when {
         call.state == CallManager.State.RINGING && call.incoming -> listOf(
-            CallAction("decline", "✕", "Decline",
+            CallAction("decline", KitIcon.CallEnd, "Decline",
                        tint = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.error, iconColor = Color.White,
                        run = model::declineCall),
-            CallAction("accept", "☎", "Answer", isPrimary = true,
+            CallAction("accept", KitIcon.Call, "Answer", isPrimary = true,
                        tint = Palette.Teal, iconColor = Color.White,
                        run = model::acceptCall),
         )
         call.state == CallManager.State.ACTIVE -> listOf(
-            CallAction("mute", if (call.muted) "🔇" else "🎤",
+            CallAction("mute", if (call.muted) KitIcon.MicOff else KitIcon.Mic,
                        if (call.muted) "Unmute" else "Mute",
                        tint = if (call.muted) MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primary else null,
                        iconColor = if (call.muted) Color.White else null,
                        run = { model.setCallMuted(!call.muted) }),
-            CallAction("end", "✕", "End", isPrimary = true,
+            CallAction("end", KitIcon.CallEnd, "End", isPrimary = true,
                        tint = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.error, iconColor = Color.White,
                        run = model::hangUp),
         )
         else -> listOf(
-            CallAction("end", "✕", "Cancel", isPrimary = true,
+            CallAction("end", KitIcon.CallEnd, "Cancel", isPrimary = true,
                        tint = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.error, iconColor = Color.White,
                        run = model::hangUp),
         )
diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/ChatScreens.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/ChatScreens.kt
index b501717..01f1d84 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/ChatScreens.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/ChatScreens.kt
@@ -1,75 +1,76 @@
 package io.flamenet.messenger.app
 
+import android.Manifest
+import android.content.pm.PackageManager
+import androidx.activity.compose.rememberLauncherForActivityResult
+import androidx.activity.result.contract.ActivityResultContracts
 import androidx.compose.foundation.background
 import androidx.compose.foundation.clickable
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Arrangement
-import androidx.compose.ui.semantics.semantics
-import androidx.compose.ui.semantics.contentDescription
-import androidx.compose.material3.HorizontalDivider
-import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.SolidColor
-import androidx.compose.material3.LocalTextStyle
-import androidx.compose.foundation.text.BasicTextField
-import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.PaddingValues
-import androidx.compose.material3.Surface
-import androidx.compose.material3.ButtonDefaults
-import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.height
-import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Spacer
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Box
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Column
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.ColumnScope
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.PaddingValues
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Row
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Spacer
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.aspectRatio
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.fillMaxSize
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.fillMaxWidth
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.height
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.heightIn
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.padding
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.size
-import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.aspectRatio
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.width
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.widthIn
 import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.LazyColumn
+import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.LazyRow
 import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.items
 import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.rememberLazyListState
 import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.CircleShape
 import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.RoundedCornerShape
+import androidx.compose.foundation.text.BasicTextField
 import androidx.compose.material3.Button
+import androidx.compose.material3.ButtonDefaults
 import androidx.compose.material3.Divider
+import androidx.compose.material3.HorizontalDivider
+import androidx.compose.material3.Icon
+import androidx.compose.material3.LocalTextStyle
 import androidx.compose.material3.MaterialTheme
 import androidx.compose.material3.OutlinedTextField
-import androidx.compose.ui.text.input.PasswordVisualTransformation
+import androidx.compose.material3.Surface
 import androidx.compose.material3.Switch
 import androidx.compose.material3.Text
 import androidx.compose.material3.TextButton
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
+import androidx.compose.runtime.DisposableEffect
 import androidx.compose.runtime.LaunchedEffect
 import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
 import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableStateOf
 import androidx.compose.runtime.remember
+import androidx.compose.runtime.rememberCoroutineScope
 import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
 import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
 import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
 import androidx.compose.ui.draw.clip
 import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color
+import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.SolidColor
 import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.asImageBitmap
-import android.Manifest
-import android.content.pm.PackageManager
-import androidx.activity.compose.rememberLauncherForActivityResult
-import androidx.activity.result.contract.ActivityResultContracts
-import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat
 import androidx.compose.ui.platform.LocalContext
-import androidx.compose.runtime.DisposableEffect
-import androidx.compose.runtime.rememberCoroutineScope
-import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
-import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.LazyRow
-import io.flamenet.e2e.Vault
 import androidx.compose.ui.platform.testTag
-import io.flamenet.client.IdentityTrust
-import io.flamenet.e2e.SafetyNumber
+import androidx.compose.ui.semantics.contentDescription
+import androidx.compose.ui.semantics.semantics
 import androidx.compose.ui.text.font.FontWeight
+import androidx.compose.ui.text.input.PasswordVisualTransformation
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.sp
+import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat
+import io.flamenet.client.IdentityTrust
+import io.flamenet.e2e.SafetyNumber
+import io.flamenet.e2e.Vault
 import java.text.SimpleDateFormat
 import java.util.Date
 import java.util.Locale
-import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.heightIn
+import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
 
 /**
  * The people you talk to.
@@ -273,7 +274,7 @@ fun ColumnScope.BuddyList(
                 // Remove — with nowhere to explain what any of them did and
                 // nowhere to put a safety number.
                 IconAction(
-                    symbol = "⋯",
+                    icon = KitIcon.More,
                     label = "About $name",
                     tag = "contact-menu-${buddy.userId}",
                     onClick = { onOpenProfile(buddy.userId) },
@@ -528,7 +529,12 @@ fun ColumnScope.NotificationsScreen(
             horizontalAlignment = Alignment.CenterHorizontally,
             verticalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(Space.sm),
         ) {
-            Text("🔔", fontSize = 32.sp)
+            Icon(
+                KitIcon.Alerts,
+                contentDescription = null,
+                tint = Palette.SecondaryText,
+                modifier = Modifier.size(Space.xxl),
+            )
             Text("Nothing new", fontSize = 16.sp, fontWeight = FontWeight.Medium)
             Text(
                 "Contact requests and things that happened while you were away "
@@ -744,10 +750,11 @@ fun ColumnScope.AccountScreen(
             tag = "delete-account",
             onClick = { if (confirmingDelete) model.deleteAccount() else confirmingDelete = true },
         ) {
-            Text(
-                "›",
-                fontSize = 20.sp,
-                color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.error,
+            Icon(
+                KitIcon.RemoveContact,
+                contentDescription = null,
+                tint = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.error,
+                modifier = Modifier.size(Kit.icon),
             )
         }
     }
@@ -971,7 +978,7 @@ internal fun Avatar(
  */
 @Composable
 private fun IconAction(
-    symbol: String,
+    icon: androidx.compose.ui.graphics.vector.ImageVector,
     label: String,
     tag: String,
     danger: Boolean = false,
@@ -986,11 +993,12 @@ private fun IconAction(
             .testTag(tag),
         contentAlignment = Alignment.Center,
     ) {
-        Text(
-            symbol,
-            fontSize = 20.sp,
-            color = if (danger) MaterialTheme.colorScheme.error
+        Icon(
+            icon,
+            contentDescription = null,
+            tint = if (danger) MaterialTheme.colorScheme.error
             else MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primary,
+            modifier = Modifier.size(Kit.icon),
         )
     }
 }
@@ -1004,17 +1012,22 @@ private fun shownGroupsExist(
 @Composable
 private fun AlertGlyph(kind: String) {
     val symbol = when {
-        kind.contains("call", true) -> "☎"
-        kind.contains("contact", true) || kind.contains("request", true) -> "＋"
-        kind.contains("group", true) -> "⊞"
-        kind.contains("story", true) -> "◎"
-        else -> "•"
+        kind.contains("call", true) -> KitIcon.Call
+        kind.contains("contact", true) || kind.contains("request", true) -> KitIcon.Add
+        kind.contains("group", true) -> KitIcon.NewGroup
+        kind.contains("story", true) -> KitIcon.Stories
+        else -> KitIcon.Dot
     }
     Box(
         modifier = Modifier.size(Kit.avatar).clip(CircleShape).background(Palette.AvatarFill),
         contentAlignment = Alignment.Center,
     ) {
-        Text(symbol, fontSize = 20.sp, color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primary)
+        Icon(
+            symbol,
+            contentDescription = null,
+            tint = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primary,
+            modifier = Modifier.size(Kit.icon),
+        )
     }
 }
 
@@ -1069,7 +1082,7 @@ fun ColumnScope.ChatScreen(
         verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically,
         horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(Space.sm),
     ) {
-        IconAction(symbol = "‹", label = "Back", tag = "back", onClick = model::closeChat)
+        IconAction(icon = KitIcon.Back, label = "Back", tag = "back", onClick = model::closeChat)
         Column(modifier = Modifier.weight(1f)) {
             Text(
                 chat.title.ifBlank { "Conversation" },
@@ -1099,7 +1112,7 @@ fun ColumnScope.ChatScreen(
         // work is worse than an absent one.
         if (chat.peerId != null) {
             IconAction(
-                symbol = "☎",
+                icon = KitIcon.Call,
                 label = "Call",
                 tag = "start-call",
                 onClick = { model.requestCall(chat.peerId) },
@@ -1107,7 +1120,7 @@ fun ColumnScope.ChatScreen(
         }
         chat.group?.let { group ->
             IconAction(
-                symbol = "⏻",
+                icon = KitIcon.LeaveGroup,
                 label = "Leave group",
                 tag = "leave-group",
                 danger = true,
@@ -1163,7 +1176,7 @@ fun ColumnScope.ChatScreen(
         verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically,
         horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(Space.sm),
     ) {
-        IconAction(symbol = "+", label = "Attach a photo", tag = "attach",
+        IconAction(icon = KitIcon.Attach, label = "Attach a photo", tag = "attach",
                    onClick = { pickImage.launch("image/*") })
 
         // ⚠️ `BasicTextField` inside our own pill rather than a Material text
@@ -1203,7 +1216,13 @@ fun ColumnScope.ChatScreen(
             shape = CircleShape,
             contentPadding = PaddingValues(0.dp),
             modifier = Modifier.size(Kit.pillHeight).testTag("send"),
-        ) { Text("→", fontSize = 20.sp) }
+        ) {
+            Icon(
+                KitIcon.Send,
+                contentDescription = null,
+                modifier = Modifier.size(Kit.icon),
+            )
+        }
     }
 
     // Voice notes sit under the composer rather than inside it: recording
@@ -1249,7 +1268,8 @@ private fun ColumnScope.VoiceComposer(
         // hanging under it. It was the widest text on the screen and the least
         // used control on it.
         KitChip(
-            text = "🎤 Voice note",
+            text = "Voice note",
+            icon = KitIcon.Mic,
             selected = false,
             onClick = {
                 if (granted) model.startRecording()
@@ -1593,7 +1613,12 @@ fun ColumnScope.StoryStrip(
                         .clickable { pickStory.launch("image/*") },
                     contentAlignment = Alignment.Center,
                 ) {
-                    Text("+", fontSize = 22.sp, color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primary)
+                    Icon(
+                        KitIcon.Add,
+                        contentDescription = null,
+                        tint = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primary,
+                        modifier = Modifier.size(Kit.icon),
+                    )
                 }
                 Text("Post", fontSize = 12.sp, color = Palette.SecondaryText)
             }
diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/ContactDetail.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/ContactDetail.kt
index 23f4262..274626a 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/ContactDetail.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/ContactDetail.kt
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.size
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.width
 import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.CircleShape
 import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.RoundedCornerShape
+import androidx.compose.material3.Icon
 import androidx.compose.material3.MaterialTheme
 import androidx.compose.material3.Text
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
@@ -76,7 +77,12 @@ fun ColumnScope.ContactDetail(
                 .testTag("contact-back"),
             contentAlignment = Alignment.Center,
         ) {
-            Text("‹", fontSize = 20.sp, color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primary)
+            Icon(
+                KitIcon.Back,
+                contentDescription = null,
+                tint = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primary,
+                modifier = Modifier.size(Kit.icon),
+            )
         }
         Spacer(Modifier.weight(1f))
     }
@@ -159,16 +165,16 @@ fun ColumnScope.ContactDetail(
                     if (isBlocked) Palette.SecondaryText else MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primary
                 ),
         ) {
-            RailButton("✉", "Message", "contact-message", enabled = !isBlocked) {
+            RailButton(KitIcon.Chats, "Message", "contact-message", enabled = !isBlocked) {
                 model.openChat(buddy.userId, buddy.displayName); onClose()
             }
             RailDivider()
-            RailButton("☎", "Call", "contact-call", enabled = !isBlocked) {
+            RailButton(KitIcon.Call, "Call", "contact-call", enabled = !isBlocked) {
                 model.requestCall(buddy.userId)
             }
             RailDivider()
             RailButton(
-                if (isBlocked) "◯" else "⊘",
+                if (isBlocked) KitIcon.PersonAdd else KitIcon.Block,
                 if (isBlocked) "Unblock" else "Block",
                 "contact-block",
             ) { model.setBlocked(buddy.userId, !isBlocked) }
@@ -214,7 +220,7 @@ private fun RailDivider() {
 
 @Composable
 private fun RailButton(
-    symbol: String,
+    icon: androidx.compose.ui.graphics.vector.ImageVector,
     label: String,
     tag: String,
     enabled: Boolean = true,
@@ -228,7 +234,12 @@ private fun RailButton(
             .testTag(tag),
         contentAlignment = Alignment.Center,
     ) {
-        Text(symbol, fontSize = 18.sp, color = Color.White.copy(alpha = if (enabled) 1f else 0.5f))
+        Icon(
+            icon,
+            contentDescription = null,
+            tint = Color.White.copy(alpha = if (enabled) 1f else 0.5f),
+            modifier = Modifier.size(Kit.icon),
+        )
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/KitButtons.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/KitButtons.kt
index 7b874fa..edcecd2 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/KitButtons.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/KitButtons.kt
@@ -2,10 +2,14 @@ package io.flamenet.messenger.app
 
 import androidx.compose.foundation.BorderStroke
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.PaddingValues
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Spacer
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.height
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.size
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.width
 import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.RoundedCornerShape
 import androidx.compose.material3.Button
 import androidx.compose.material3.ButtonDefaults
+import androidx.compose.material3.Icon
 import androidx.compose.material3.MaterialTheme
 import androidx.compose.material3.OutlinedButton
 import androidx.compose.material3.Text
@@ -103,6 +107,13 @@ fun KitChip(
     onClick: () -> Unit,
     modifier: Modifier = Modifier,
     tag: String? = null,
+    /**
+     * ⚠️ Optional, and a real vector when present. The voice-note chip used to
+     * carry its picture as an emoji inside `text` — "🎤 Voice note" — which
+     * renders in whatever the system emoji font is, at the text baseline, in
+     * full colour. Beside a drawn monochrome icon it reads as a sticker.
+     */
+    icon: androidx.compose.ui.graphics.vector.ImageVector? = null,
 ) {
     Button(
         onClick = onClick,
@@ -118,6 +129,10 @@ fun KitChip(
             .height(36.dp)
             .then(if (tag != null) Modifier.testTag(tag) else Modifier),
     ) {
+        if (icon != null) {
+            Icon(icon, contentDescription = null, modifier = Modifier.size(18.dp))
+            Spacer(Modifier.width(6.dp))
+        }
         Text(text, fontSize = 14.sp, fontWeight = FontWeight.Medium)
     }
 }
diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/KitIcons.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/KitIcons.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fa2304a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/KitIcons.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+package io.flamenet.messenger.app
+
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.Icons
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.automirrored.outlined.ArrowBackIos
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.automirrored.outlined.Logout
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.automirrored.outlined.Send
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.ChatBubble
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Circle
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.outlined.Add
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.outlined.AddCircleOutline
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.outlined.Block
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.outlined.Call
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.outlined.CallEnd
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.outlined.ChatBubbleOutline
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.outlined.Close
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.outlined.DeleteOutline
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.outlined.GroupAdd
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.outlined.Mic
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.outlined.MicOff
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.outlined.MoreHoriz
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.outlined.NotificationsNone
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.outlined.PersonAdd
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.outlined.PersonOutline
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.outlined.PersonRemove
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.outlined.PhotoCamera
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.outlined.Search
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.outlined.Verified
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.outlined.Videocam
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.outlined.VolumeUp
+import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.vector.ImageVector
+
+/**
+ * The app's icon vocabulary, in one place.
+ *
+ * 🔴 **Why this file exists.** Every icon in this app used to be a text
+ * character or an emoji — `+`, `→`, `‹`, `⋯`, `☎️`, `🎤`, `⊞`. It was reported
+ * three times as "bare", "disorganized" and "a bunch of text links", and each
+ * time I adjusted spacing and type instead, because from the code the rows
+ * looked structurally right. They were: the kit's Messages screen and ours
+ * agree on the 24dp margin, the 48dp row on a 72dp pitch, the search pill and
+ * the story strip. What they did not agree on is that every piece of chrome in
+ * the kit is a drawn line icon and every piece of ours was a glyph in a text
+ * run. A `Text("→")` in a circle is not a send button, it is an arrow
+ * character, and no amount of layout work fixes that.
+ *
+ * ⚠️ `material-icons-extended` was already a dependency the whole time, and
+ * the app had **zero** `Icon(` calls and **zero** `material.icons` imports. The
+ * fix was never blocked on anything; it was blocked on looking at a render.
+ *
+ * Naming is by role, not by picture — `Kit.Send` rather than `Kit.PaperPlane` —
+ * so swapping the drawing later is one edit here and nothing at the call sites.
+ */
+object KitIcon {
+    // Chrome
+    val Back: ImageVector = Icons.AutoMirrored.Outlined.ArrowBackIos
+    val More: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.MoreHoriz
+    val Close: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.Close
+    val Add: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.Add
+    val Search: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.Search
+
+    // Tab bar. The active tab is the filled variant of the same shape, which
+    // is how the kit distinguishes it — not a different icon.
+    val Chats: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.ChatBubbleOutline
+    val ChatsActive: ImageVector = Icons.Filled.ChatBubble
+    val Stories: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.PhotoCamera
+    val Alerts: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.NotificationsNone
+    val Account: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.PersonOutline
+
+    // Composer
+    val Attach: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.AddCircleOutline
+    val Camera: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.PhotoCamera
+    val Send: ImageVector = Icons.AutoMirrored.Outlined.Send
+    val Mic: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.Mic
+
+    // Calls
+    val Call: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.Call
+    val Video: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.Videocam
+    val CallEnd: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.CallEnd
+    val MicOff: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.MicOff
+    val Speaker: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.VolumeUp
+
+    // Contact actions
+    val NewGroup: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.GroupAdd
+    val Block: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.Block
+    /** Unblocking: the same row, the opposite verb. */
+    val PersonAdd: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.PersonAdd
+    val ClearChat: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.DeleteOutline
+    val RemoveContact: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.PersonRemove
+    val Verified: ImageVector = Icons.Outlined.Verified
+    val LeaveGroup: ImageVector = Icons.AutoMirrored.Outlined.Logout
+
+    /** Presence and unread dots, where a filled circle IS the icon. */
+    val Dot: ImageVector = Icons.Filled.Circle
+}
diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/MainActivity.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/MainActivity.kt
index a7b7172..c4f9c4d 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/MainActivity.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/MainActivity.kt
@@ -3,36 +3,33 @@ package io.flamenet.messenger.app
 import android.os.Bundle
 import androidx.activity.ComponentActivity
 import androidx.activity.compose.setContent
+import androidx.compose.foundation.background
+import androidx.compose.foundation.clickable
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Arrangement
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Box
-import androidx.compose.ui.unit.sp
-import androidx.compose.ui.text.font.FontWeight
-import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.SolidColor
-import androidx.compose.ui.draw.clip
-import androidx.compose.material3.LocalTextStyle
-import androidx.compose.material3.HorizontalDivider
-import androidx.compose.foundation.text.BasicTextField
-import androidx.compose.foundation.background
-import androidx.compose.ui.text.style.TextAlign
-import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color
-import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.width
-import androidx.compose.ui.semantics.semantics
-import androidx.compose.ui.semantics.contentDescription
-import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.CircleShape
-import androidx.compose.foundation.clickable
-import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Column
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.ColumnScope
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Row
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.RowScope
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Spacer
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.fillMaxSize
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.fillMaxWidth
-import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Row
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.height
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.heightIn
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.padding
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.size
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.width
 import androidx.compose.foundation.rememberScrollState
+import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.CircleShape
+import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.RoundedCornerShape
+import androidx.compose.foundation.text.BasicTextField
 import androidx.compose.foundation.text.KeyboardOptions
 import androidx.compose.foundation.verticalScroll
 import androidx.compose.material3.Button
 import androidx.compose.material3.CircularProgressIndicator
+import androidx.compose.material3.HorizontalDivider
+import androidx.compose.material3.Icon
+import androidx.compose.material3.LocalTextStyle
 import androidx.compose.material3.MaterialTheme
 import androidx.compose.material3.OutlinedTextField
 import androidx.compose.material3.Scaffold
@@ -44,18 +41,23 @@ import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
 import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableStateOf
 import androidx.compose.runtime.remember
 import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
+import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
 import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
+import androidx.compose.ui.draw.clip
+import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color
+import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.SolidColor
 import androidx.compose.ui.platform.testTag
+import androidx.compose.ui.semantics.contentDescription
+import androidx.compose.ui.semantics.semantics
+import androidx.compose.ui.text.font.FontWeight
 import androidx.compose.ui.text.input.ImeAction
 import androidx.compose.ui.text.input.KeyboardType
 import androidx.compose.ui.text.input.PasswordVisualTransformation
+import androidx.compose.ui.text.style.TextAlign
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
+import androidx.compose.ui.unit.sp
 import androidx.lifecycle.compose.collectAsStateWithLifecycle
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewmodel.compose.viewModel
-import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Spacer
-import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.height
-import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.RoundedCornerShape
-import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.heightIn
 
 class MainActivity : ComponentActivity() {
     override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
@@ -441,36 +443,75 @@ private fun BottomNav(
         horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.SpaceEvenly,
     ) {
         NavButton(model, phase, MessengerViewModel.Phase.Screen.CONTACTS,
-            "Contacts" + (phase.unread.size.takeIf { it > 0 }?.let { " ($it)" } ?: ""), "nav-contacts")
-        NavButton(model, phase, MessengerViewModel.Phase.Screen.STORIES, "Stories", "nav-stories")
+            KitIcon.Chats, KitIcon.ChatsActive, "Chats", phase.unread.size, "nav-contacts")
+        NavButton(model, phase, MessengerViewModel.Phase.Screen.STORIES,
+            KitIcon.Stories, KitIcon.Stories, "Stories", 0, "nav-stories")
         NavButton(model, phase, MessengerViewModel.Phase.Screen.NOTIFICATIONS,
-            "Alerts" + (unreadNotes.takeIf { it > 0 }?.let { " ($it)" } ?: ""), "nav-alerts")
-        NavButton(model, phase, MessengerViewModel.Phase.Screen.ACCOUNT, "Account", "nav-account")
+            KitIcon.Alerts, KitIcon.Alerts, "Alerts", unreadNotes, "nav-alerts")
+        NavButton(model, phase, MessengerViewModel.Phase.Screen.ACCOUNT,
+            KitIcon.Account, KitIcon.Account, "Account", 0, "nav-account")
     }
 }
 
+/**
+ * One tab: a drawn icon, and a count when there is one.
+ *
+ * 🔴 **No label.** The kit's bar is four icons and nothing else — the artboard
+ * is literally named "Bottom Bar/Without Label". This was four `TextButton`s
+ * reading "Contacts  Stories  Alerts  Account", which is a row of links, and
+ * the counts were parenthesised into those labels: "Contacts (3)".
+ *
+ * ⚠️ The label survives as the accessibility name. Dropping the text from the
+ * screen must not drop it from VoiceOver/TalkBack, or the bar becomes four
+ * unnamed buttons — the version of this that shipped as icons-only with no
+ * `contentDescription` would be strictly worse than the text it replaced.
+ */
 @Composable
-private fun NavButton(
+private fun RowScope.NavButton(
     model: MessengerViewModel,
     phase: MessengerViewModel.Phase.SignedIn,
     screen: MessengerViewModel.Phase.Screen,
+    icon: androidx.compose.ui.graphics.vector.ImageVector,
+    activeIcon: androidx.compose.ui.graphics.vector.ImageVector,
     label: String,
+    badge: Int,
     tag: String,
 ) {
-    TextButton(
-        onClick = {
-            model.showScreen(screen)
-            if (screen == MessengerViewModel.Phase.Screen.NOTIFICATIONS) {
-                model.refreshNotifications()
+    val selected = phase.screen == screen
+    Box(
+        modifier = Modifier
+            .weight(1f)
+            .height(Kit.pillHeight)
+            .clickable {
+                model.showScreen(screen)
+                if (screen == MessengerViewModel.Phase.Screen.NOTIFICATIONS) {
+                    model.refreshNotifications()
+                }
             }
-        },
-        modifier = Modifier.testTag(tag),
+            .semantics {
+                contentDescription =
+                    if (badge > 0) "$label, $badge unread" else label
+            }
+            .testTag(tag),
+        contentAlignment = Alignment.Center,
     ) {
-        Text(
-            label,
-            color = if (phase.screen == screen) MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primary
-            else MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurface,
+        Icon(
+            if (selected) activeIcon else icon,
+            contentDescription = null,
+            tint = if (selected) MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primary
+            else Palette.SecondaryText,
+            modifier = Modifier.size(Kit.icon),
         )
+        if (badge > 0) {
+            Box(
+                modifier = Modifier
+                    .align(Alignment.TopEnd)
+                    .padding(top = Space.md, end = Space.lg)
+                    .size(Space.sm)
+                    .clip(CircleShape)
+                    .background(Palette.Pink),
+            )
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -532,13 +573,13 @@ internal fun ColumnScope.SignedIn(
             modifier = Modifier.weight(1f),
         )
         BarAction(
-            symbol = if (creatingGroup) "×" else "⊞",
+            icon = if (creatingGroup) KitIcon.Close else KitIcon.NewGroup,
             label = "New group",
             tag = "new-group",
             onClick = { creatingGroup = !creatingGroup },
         )
         BarAction(
-            symbol = if (addingContact) "×" else "+",
+            icon = if (addingContact) KitIcon.Close else KitIcon.Add,
             label = "Add contact",
             tag = "add-contact",
             onClick = { addingContact = !addingContact },
@@ -602,7 +643,12 @@ internal fun ColumnScope.SignedIn(
  * anyone who cannot see them.
  */
 @Composable
-private fun BarAction(symbol: String, label: String, tag: String, onClick: () -> Unit) {
+private fun BarAction(
+    icon: androidx.compose.ui.graphics.vector.ImageVector,
+    label: String,
+    tag: String,
+    onClick: () -> Unit,
+) {
     Box(
         modifier = Modifier
             .size(Kit.icon + Space.md)
@@ -612,7 +658,15 @@ private fun BarAction(symbol: String, label: String, tag: String, onClick: () ->
             .testTag(tag),
         contentAlignment = Alignment.Center,
     ) {
-        Text(symbol, fontSize = 20.sp, color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primary)
+        // 🔴 An `Icon`, not a glyph in a text run. See `KitIcons.kt` — the bar
+        // used to draw "⊞" and "+" as characters, which is most of why this
+        // screen read as text links rather than as chrome.
+        Icon(
+            icon,
+            contentDescription = null,
+            tint = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primary,
+            modifier = Modifier.size(Kit.icon),
+        )
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/StoriesFeed.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/StoriesFeed.kt
index 95d6772..7a6e36d 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/StoriesFeed.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/StoriesFeed.kt
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.padding
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.size
 import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.CircleShape
 import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.RoundedCornerShape
+import androidx.compose.material3.Icon
 import androidx.compose.material3.MaterialTheme
 import androidx.compose.material3.Text
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
@@ -61,7 +62,12 @@ fun ColumnScope.StoriesFeed(
             horizontalAlignment = Alignment.CenterHorizontally,
             verticalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(Space.sm),
         ) {
-            Text("◎", fontSize = 32.sp, color = Palette.SecondaryText)
+            Icon(
+                KitIcon.Stories,
+                contentDescription = null,
+                tint = Palette.SecondaryText,
+                modifier = Modifier.size(Space.xxl),
+            )
             Text("Nothing here yet", fontSize = 16.sp, fontWeight = FontWeight.Medium)
             Text(
                 "A story goes to your contacts and disappears after a day — on "
diff --git a/app/src/test/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/ScreenshotTest.kt b/app/src/test/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/ScreenshotTest.kt
index 57a32d9..80b61b9 100644
--- a/app/src/test/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/ScreenshotTest.kt
+++ b/app/src/test/kotlin/io/flamenet/messenger/app/ScreenshotTest.kt
@@ -144,8 +144,8 @@ class ScreenshotTest {
             peerName = "Hoang Nguyen",
             status = "On a call",
             actions = listOf(
-                CallAction("mute", "🎤", "Mute") {},
-                CallAction("end", "✕", "End", isPrimary = true,
+                CallAction("mute", KitIcon.Mic, "Mute") {},
+                CallAction("end", KitIcon.CallEnd, "End", isPrimary = true,
                            tint = androidx.compose.material3.MaterialTheme.colorScheme.error,
                            iconColor = androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color.White) {},
             ),
@@ -157,10 +157,10 @@ class ScreenshotTest {
             peerName = "Hoang Nguyen",
             status = "Incoming call",
             actions = listOf(
-                CallAction("decline", "✕", "Decline",
+                CallAction("decline", KitIcon.CallEnd, "Decline",
                            tint = androidx.compose.material3.MaterialTheme.colorScheme.error,
                            iconColor = androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color.White) {},
-                CallAction("accept", "☎", "Answer", isPrimary = true,
+                CallAction("accept", KitIcon.Call, "Answer", isPrimary = true,
                            tint = Palette.Teal,
                            iconColor = androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color.White) {},
             ),