diff --git a/style/main.css b/style/main.css
index e6226b1..c898c1e 100644
--- a/style/main.css
+++ b/style/main.css
@@ -38,11 +38,13 @@
 }
 
 :root {
-  /* the one brand color - everything else is neutral. Tuned for
-     legibility against near-black, distinct from the YES canvas's own
-     cyan/magenta/yellow so UI chrome never fights with it. */
-  --accent: #f0923c;
-  --accent-soft: rgba(240, 146, 60, 0.16);
+  /* the one brand color - everything else is neutral. A muted,
+     desaturated echo of the YES canvas's cyan ink: same family as the
+     canvas so chrome harmonizes with it, but dusty enough to read as a
+     quiet spot color on dark stock rather than compete. Legible
+     against near-black both as text and under #0a0a0a button text. */
+  --accent: #8ec2c0;
+  --accent-soft: rgba(142, 194, 192, 0.16);
 
   --paper: #0a0a0a;
   --paper-raised: #161616;