diff --git a/frontend/src/App.jsx b/frontend/src/App.jsx
index 3a5dca1..e7dfb88 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/App.jsx
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ export default function App() {
               wonders why a conversation is public can reach the answer
               in two clicks. Anonymous viewers see it too. */}
           <Link to="/philosophy" className="header-about" title="Why this exists (§14)">
-            About
+            Philosophy
           </Link>
           <Link to="/docs" className="header-about" title="User guide">
             Docs
@@ -188,9 +188,17 @@ export default function App() {
             <button
               className="inbox-trigger"
               onClick={() => setInboxOpen(o => !o)}
-              title="Notifications inbox (§15.2)"
+              aria-label="Inbox"
+              title="Inbox (§15.2)"
             >
-              <span aria-hidden>📮</span>
+              <svg
+                width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+                fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="1.75"
+                strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" aria-hidden
+              >
+                <path d="M4 5h16a1 1 0 0 1 1 1v12a1 1 0 0 1-1 1H4a1 1 0 0 1-1-1V6a1 1 0 0 1 1-1Z" />
+                <path d="m3.5 6.5 8.5 6 8.5-6" />
+              </svg>
               {unreadCount > 0 && (
                 <span className="badge">{unreadCount > 99 ? '99+' : unreadCount}</span>
               )}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Inbox.css b/frontend/src/components/Inbox.css
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6f8329b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Inbox.css
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+/* Inbox.css — §15.2 inbox panel refinements (roadmap #25, light pass).
+ *
+ * The base inbox layout/structure lives in App.css (the §15 / Slice 6
+ * block). This sheet is a TOKENIZED polish layer on top of it: it does
+ * NOT re-lay-out the panel, it sharpens the unread/read distinction,
+ * adds the per-row "mark read" affordance + the unread dot, and gives
+ * the empty/loading states real copy and spacing.
+ *
+ * Cascade note: Inbox.jsx is imported by App.jsx (line 6) BEFORE the
+ * App.css import (line 30), so under ESM depth-first evaluation this
+ * sheet is injected FIRST and App.css wins on equal specificity. Any
+ * rule here that must override an App.css value is therefore written
+ * one notch more specific (e.g. `.inbox-list .inbox-row.unread`).
+ * New classes that App.css doesn't define need no such guard.
+ */
+
+/* ===== Unread vs. read distinction ===== */
+
+/* A clear left accent bar + warmer tint on unread; read rows sit calm. */
+.inbox-list .inbox-row {
+  position: relative;
+  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+  transition: background var(--motion-fast) var(--ease-out);
+}
+.inbox-list .inbox-row.unread {
+  background: var(--color-warning-bg-soft, var(--c-warning-bg-soft));
+  box-shadow: inset 3px 0 0 var(--color-accent);
+}
+.inbox-list .inbox-row.read .inbox-summary {
+  color: var(--color-text-muted);
+  font-weight: var(--weight-normal);
+}
+.inbox-list .inbox-row.unread .inbox-summary {
+  color: var(--color-text);
+  font-weight: var(--weight-medium);
+}
+
+/* The dot is a NEW affordance: a filled accent dot for unread, hidden
+ * (but space-reserved) for read so summaries stay column-aligned. */
+.inbox-unread-dot {
+  flex: 0 0 auto;
+  width: 8px;
+  height: 8px;
+  border-radius: var(--radius-pill);
+  background: var(--color-accent);
+}
+.inbox-row.read .inbox-unread-dot {
+  background: transparent;
+}
+
+/* ===== Per-row "mark read" affordance ===== */
+
+/* The row is a flex Link followed by this button; pin the button to the
+ * right edge, revealed on row hover/focus and always visible on touch. */
+.inbox-row {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+}
+.inbox-row .inbox-row-link {
+  flex: 1 1 auto;
+  min-width: 0;
+}
+.inbox-row-dismiss {
+  flex: 0 0 auto;
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  width: 28px;
+  height: 28px;
+  margin-right: var(--space-5);
+  padding: 0;
+  color: var(--color-text-subtle);
+  background: transparent;
+  border: 1px solid transparent;
+  border-radius: var(--radius-md);
+  cursor: pointer;
+  opacity: 0;
+  transition:
+    opacity var(--motion-fast) var(--ease-out),
+    color var(--motion-fast) var(--ease-out),
+    background var(--motion-fast) var(--ease-out),
+    border-color var(--motion-fast) var(--ease-out);
+}
+.inbox-row:hover .inbox-row-dismiss,
+.inbox-row:focus-within .inbox-row-dismiss,
+.inbox-row-dismiss:focus-visible {
+  opacity: 1;
+}
+.inbox-row-dismiss:hover {
+  color: var(--color-success-fg);
+  background: var(--color-success-bg);
+  border-color: var(--color-success-bg);
+}
+.inbox-row-dismiss:focus-visible {
+  outline: 2px solid var(--color-focus-ring);
+  outline-offset: 1px;
+}
+/* Coarse pointers (touch) have no hover; keep the affordance discoverable. */
+@media (hover: none) {
+  .inbox-row-dismiss { opacity: 1; }
+}
+
+/* ===== Mark-all-read button ===== */
+.inbox-mark-all {
+  margin-left: auto;
+}
+
+/* ===== Empty / loading states ===== */
+.inbox-state {
+  padding: var(--space-9) var(--space-7);
+  text-align: center;
+}
+.inbox-empty {
+  padding: var(--space-11) var(--space-7);
+  text-align: center;
+}
+.inbox-empty-title {
+  margin: 0 0 var(--space-3);
+  font-size: var(--text-md);
+  font-weight: var(--weight-semibold);
+  color: var(--color-text-strong);
+}
+.inbox-empty .muted {
+  margin: 0;
+  font-size: var(--text-base);
+  line-height: var(--leading-normal);
+  color: var(--color-text-muted);
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Inbox.jsx b/frontend/src/components/Inbox.jsx
index 8ae42e0..89fa4a0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Inbox.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Inbox.jsx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
   markNotificationRead,
   markNotificationsReadByFilter,
 } from '../api.js'
+import './Inbox.css'
 
 const CATEGORIES = [
   { value: '', label: 'All categories' },
@@ -56,11 +57,15 @@ export default function Inbox({ onClose, lastChangeTick }) {
     return Array.from(seen.entries())
   }, [items])
 
+  async function markOneRead(item) {
+    if (item.read_at) return
+    await markNotificationRead(item.id)
+    setItems(prev => prev.map(p => p.id === item.id ? { ...p, read_at: new Date().toISOString() } : p))
+    setUnreadCount(c => Math.max(0, c - 1))
+  }
+
   async function handleRowClick(item) {
-    if (!item.read_at) {
-      await markNotificationRead(item.id)
-      setItems(prev => prev.map(p => p.id === item.id ? { ...p, read_at: new Date().toISOString() } : p))
-    }
+    await markOneRead(item)
   }
 
   async function markAllUnderFilter() {
@@ -121,22 +126,36 @@ export default function Inbox({ onClose, lastChangeTick }) {
           </label>
 
           <button
-            className="btn-link"
+            className="btn-link inbox-mark-all"
             onClick={markAllUnderFilter}
             disabled={items.every(i => i.read_at)}
+            title="Mark every notification matching the current filter as read"
           >
-            Mark all read (under filter)
+            Mark all read
           </button>
         </div>
 
         <div className="inbox-body">
-          {loading && <p className="muted">Loading…</p>}
+          {loading && <p className="inbox-state muted">Loading your inbox…</p>}
           {!loading && items.length === 0 && (
-            <p className="muted">No notifications match. Try a different filter, or come back later.</p>
+            <div className="inbox-empty">
+              <p className="inbox-empty-title">You're all caught up.</p>
+              <p className="muted">
+                {filters.unread || filters.rfcSlug || filters.category
+                  ? 'Nothing matches the current filters. Clear them to see everything.'
+                  : 'New activity on RFCs you follow will show up here.'}
+              </p>
+            </div>
           )}
           <ul className="inbox-list">
             {items.map(item => (
-              <InboxRow key={item.id} item={item} onClick={handleRowClick} onClose={onClose} />
+              <InboxRow
+                key={item.id}
+                item={item}
+                onClick={handleRowClick}
+                onMarkRead={markOneRead}
+                onClose={onClose}
+              />
             ))}
           </ul>
         </div>
@@ -145,16 +164,24 @@ export default function Inbox({ onClose, lastChangeTick }) {
   )
 }
 
-function InboxRow({ item, onClick, onClose }) {
+function InboxRow({ item, onClick, onMarkRead, onClose }) {
   const unread = !item.read_at
   const target = deepLink(item)
   const handle = async () => {
     await onClick(item)
     if (target) onClose?.()
   }
+  const handleMarkRead = async (e) => {
+    // Don't let the row's Link fire — this affordance only marks read,
+    // it never navigates.
+    e.preventDefault()
+    e.stopPropagation()
+    await onMarkRead(item)
+  }
   return (
-    <li className={`inbox-row ${unread ? 'unread' : ''}`}>
+    <li className={`inbox-row ${unread ? 'unread' : 'read'}`}>
       <Link to={target || '#'} onClick={handle} className="inbox-row-link">
+        <span className="inbox-unread-dot" aria-hidden />
         <span className={`inbox-cat cat-${item.category || 'unknown'}`}>{item.category || '·'}</span>
         <span className="inbox-summary">{item.summary}</span>
         {item.bundled_count > 1 && (
@@ -162,6 +189,24 @@ function InboxRow({ item, onClick, onClose }) {
         )}
         <span className="inbox-when">{formatWhen(item.created_at)}</span>
       </Link>
+      {unread && (
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          className="inbox-row-dismiss"
+          onClick={handleMarkRead}
+          aria-label="Mark as read"
+          title="Mark as read"
+        >
+          {/* check glyph — dependency-free inline SVG */}
+          <svg
+            width="14" height="14" viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+            fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2.25"
+            strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" aria-hidden
+          >
+            <path d="m5 13 4 4 10-11" />
+          </svg>
+        </button>
+      )}
     </li>
   )
 }