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[UX][P1.5/P2] Light-mode cards need clearer surface contrast #50

Description

@BunsDev

Describe the bug

Heuristic UX audit finding for the Cave: in light mode, card surfaces can read too flat against the page background. This makes grouped content harder to scan and weakens hierarchy, especially where cards contain dense controls or status metadata.

Severity: P1.5/P2 UX polish. Not blocking core use, but it affects readability and perceived quality across repeated surfaces.

Steps to reproduce

  1. Open the Cave in light mode.
  2. Navigate to a card-heavy surface such as dashboards, project/chat lists, workflow panels, or feedback/admin views.
  3. Compare card boundaries, elevation, border contrast, and internal hierarchy against the surrounding page background.

Expected behavior

Cards should have enough contrast to clearly read as grouped surfaces in light mode without becoming visually heavy. Likely fixes to evaluate:

  • Slightly stronger light-mode card border.
  • Subtle background offset between page and card surfaces.
  • Consistent hover/focus affordances for clickable cards.
  • Audit nested/card-adjacent surfaces so hierarchy stays readable.

Environment

  • OS: macOS/local dev, exact target surface TBD
  • Browser/Node version: TBD during verification
  • Deployment type: local Cave/dev surface

Logs / screenshots

Filed from a Coven heuristic UX audit note. Needs visual verification and screenshots before closing.

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