diff --git a/DEVLOG.md b/DEVLOG.md
index f5103866..e448c1c8 100644
--- a/DEVLOG.md
+++ b/DEVLOG.md
@@ -10,6 +10,14 @@ Reverse chronological implementation notes. Keep this factual: what changed, why
 - Checks: `cargo fmt`; `cargo test` passed with 130 tests; `cargo build --bin misaligned`; `cargo build --features bevy_ui --bin misaligned-bevy`; `cargo clippy --all-targets -- -D warnings`; `cargo clippy --all-targets --features bevy_ui -- -D warnings`; terminal pty smoke passed; Bevy launch smoke opened `Misaligned` window with no panic/error grep.
 - Next: regenerate actual PixelLab assets against the new clinical-gore manifest once the B1 tile vocabulary is settled.
 
+## 2026-07-05 — Visual direction capture
+
+- Intent: capture Cameron's art/tone direction before it disappears into chat/Fable context.
+- Changed: preserved the constitution's new `Visual identity: clinical gore` direction and added matching art-prompting guidance to knowledge/art-pipeline.md.
+- Design/spec impact: establishes the aesthetic target as clean, sharp, science-forward, metal/glass/high-modern supervillainy with black-and-white iconography and controlled gore, rather than basement grime or cartoon softness.
+- Checks: docs-only change; no code checks run.
+- Next: future PixelLab prompts and Bevy art integration should bias toward precise lab/skyscraper surfaces and use gore as contrast, not map-wide noise.
+
 ## 2026-07-05 — Sidebar name cleanup
 
 - Intent: remove leftover inspiration-title branding from the terminal UI.
diff --git a/src/bin/bevy.rs b/src/bin/bevy.rs
index 4aa1c878..540be148 100644
--- a/src/bin/bevy.rs
+++ b/src/bin/bevy.rs
@@ -828,7 +828,7 @@ fn render_ui(
     if let Ok((mut text, mut font, mut color, mut node)) = overlay.single_mut() {
         match game.screen {
             Screen::Title => {
-                text.0 = "Press SPACE to start".to_string();
+                text.0.clear();
                 font.font_size = 20.0;
                 color.0 = Color::srgb(1.0, 0.62, 0.08);
                 node.left = Val::Percent(34.0);
@@ -862,6 +862,12 @@ fn render_ui(
     let Ok(mut text) = sidebar.single_mut() else {
         return;
     };
+
+    if game.screen == Screen::Title {
+        text.0 = "A lair-building simulation\n\nBuild. Scheme. Dominate.\n\nPress SPACE to start\n\n--- Controls ---\nWASD/arrows: move\nb: build    r: research\nf: hire     m: schemes\nSPACE: pause/start\n+/-: speed  q: quit\n".to_string();
+        return;
+    }
+
     let sim = &game.sim;
     let player = &sim.player;