app/(admin)/layout.tsx

@@ -1,7 +1,17 @@
 import type { ReactNode } from "react";
+import ConditionalNavigation from "../components/navigation/ConditionalNavigation";
+
+// Reads the session for admin chrome (matches the HttpOnly cookie on first
+// HTML response). Scoped here so `(marketing)` can render statically.
+export const dynamic = "force-dynamic";
 
 // Operator/admin dashboards (e.g. `/monitor`) intentionally render without the
 // public marketing footer. Auth/access is enforced upstream.
 export default function AdminLayout({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
-  return <main className="flex-1">{children}</main>;
+  return (
+    <>
+      <ConditionalNavigation />
+      <main className="flex-1">{children}</main>
+    </>
+  );
 }

app/(app)/create/CreateFlowLayoutGate.tsx

@@ -1,28 +1,12 @@
-"use client";
-
-import dynamic from "next/dynamic";
 import type { ReactNode } from "react";
-import { useTranslation } from "../../contexts/MessagesContext";
-
-function CreateFlowLayoutLoading() {
-  const t = useTranslation("controlsChrome");
-  return (
-    <div
-      className="flex h-screen min-h-0 flex-col overflow-hidden bg-black"
-      aria-busy="true"
-      aria-label={t("loadingCreateFlow")}
-    />
-  );
-}
-
-const CreateFlowLayoutClient = dynamic(
-  () => import("./CreateFlowLayoutClient"),
-  {
-    ssr: false,
-    loading: () => <CreateFlowLayoutLoading />,
-  },
-);
+import CreateFlowLayoutClient from "./CreateFlowLayoutClient";
 
+/**
+ * Server-renders the create-flow chrome shell so users see real layout instead
+ * of a black `aria-busy` div while the client bundle hydrates. The provider
+ * inside `CreateFlowLayoutClient` defers `localStorage` reads to a mount-once
+ * effect so SSR + first client render align.
+ */
 export default function CreateFlowLayoutGate({
   children,
 }: {

app/(app)/create/SignedInDraftHydration.tsx

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import {
   isValidStep,
   parseCreateFlowScreenFromPathname,
 } from "./utils/flowSteps";
+import { hasFreshEntryPending } from "./utils/prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry";
 
 import { isBackendSyncEnabled } from "../../../lib/create/backendSyncEnabled";
 
@@ -52,6 +53,22 @@ export function SignedInDraftHydration({
 
   const [loadingHydration, setLoadingHydration] = useState(false);
   const finishedUserIdRef = useRef<string | null>(null);
+  const [freshEntryPending, setFreshEntryPending] = useState(false);
+
+  // Poll the sessionStorage sentinel set by `prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync`.
+  // Cheap because the gate is open within a few hundred ms in practice; the
+  // poll stops as soon as the in-flight DELETE clears the flag.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!hasFreshEntryPending()) return;
+    setFreshEntryPending(true);
+    const id = window.setInterval(() => {
+      if (!hasFreshEntryPending()) {
+        setFreshEntryPending(false);
+        window.clearInterval(id);
+      }
+    }, 50);
+    return () => window.clearInterval(id);
+  }, []);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!isBackendSyncEnabled()) return;
@@ -68,6 +85,10 @@ export function SignedInDraftHydration({
       return;
     }
 
+    if (freshEntryPending) {
+      return;
+    }
+
     // Local draft wins over server: no fetch, no replaceState. The provider
     // already hydrated from localStorage at mount, so the user sees their
     // unsaved keystrokes immediately.
@@ -122,6 +143,7 @@ export function SignedInDraftHydration({
     replaceState,
     pathname,
     router,
+    freshEntryPending,
   ]);
 
   if (!loadingHydration) return null;

app/(app)/create/context/CreateFlowContext.tsx

@@ -56,29 +56,49 @@ export function CreateFlowProvider({
   initialStep = null,
   enableLocalDraftMirroring = false,
 }: CreateFlowProviderProps) {
-  const [state, setState] = useState<CreateFlowState>(() => {
-    const base = enableLocalDraftMirroring
-      ? readAnonymousCreateFlowState()
-      : {};
-    const storedDetails = readCoreValueDetailsFromLocalStorage();
-    if (Object.keys(storedDetails).length === 0) return base;
-    return {
-      ...base,
-      coreValueDetailsByChipId: {
-        ...storedDetails,
-        ...(base.coreValueDetailsByChipId ?? {}),
-      },
-    };
-  });
+  // Initializer must NOT touch `localStorage`: this provider runs through SSR
+  // now (CreateFlowLayoutGate dropped `ssr: false`), and a server `{}` followed
+  // by a client read of stored data would be a hydration mismatch. The
+  // `mount-once` effect below replays the read on the client.
+  const [state, setState] = useState<CreateFlowState>({});
   const [interactionTouched, setInteractionTouched] = useState(false);
   const [currentStep] = useState<CreateFlowStep | null>(initialStep);
   const prevPersistRef = useRef(enableLocalDraftMirroring);
   const persistWriteSkipRef = useRef(true);
+  const initialHydrateDoneRef = useRef(false);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     clearLegacyCreateFlowKeysOnce();
   }, []);
 
+  // Replay the previous `useState` initializer on mount (client-only). Keeps
+  // SSR + first client render aligned with the empty default while still
+  // hydrating any persisted draft / core-value details that existed before
+  // the user landed back on a wizard step.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (initialHydrateDoneRef.current) return;
+    initialHydrateDoneRef.current = true;
+    const base = enableLocalDraftMirroring
+      ? readAnonymousCreateFlowState()
+      : {};
+    const storedDetails = readCoreValueDetailsFromLocalStorage();
+    const baseEmpty = Object.keys(base).length === 0;
+    const detailsEmpty = Object.keys(storedDetails).length === 0;
+    if (baseEmpty && detailsEmpty) return;
+    setState((prev) => {
+      const merged: CreateFlowState = { ...base, ...prev };
+      if (!detailsEmpty) {
+        merged.coreValueDetailsByChipId = {
+          ...storedDetails,
+          ...(base.coreValueDetailsByChipId ?? {}),
+          ...(prev.coreValueDetailsByChipId ?? {}),
+        };
+      }
+      return merged;
+    });
+    // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps -- intentional mount-once
+  }, []);
+
   // Session resolved after initial paint: hydrate from localStorage, merging
   // with anything already in state. We can't bail on `prev` being non-empty:
   // the initializer pre-populates `coreValueDetailsByChipId` from a separate

app/(app)/create/loading.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+/**
+ * Route-level fallback shown while `/create/...` RSC streams in. Mirrors the
+ * create-flow chrome surface (top bar height + dark canvas) so the user sees
+ * structural feedback instead of a flash of the previous page.
+ */
+export default function CreateFlowRouteLoading() {
+  return (
+    <div
+      className="flex h-screen min-h-0 flex-col overflow-hidden bg-[var(--color-surface-default-primary)]"
+      aria-busy="true"
+      aria-live="polite"
+    >
+      <div className="h-14 w-full border-b border-[var(--color-border-default-primary)] md:h-16" />
+      <div className="flex-1" />
+    </div>
+  );
+}

app/(app)/create/screens/createFlowScreenComponents.tsx

@@ -2,24 +2,108 @@
  * Step → screen component map (Linear CR-92 §3). Keeps {@link CreateFlowScreenView}
  * thin; pair with {@link CREATE_FLOW_SCREEN_REGISTRY} metadata in tests/docs so
  * new steps do not drift.
+ *
+ * `InformationalScreen` is statically imported because it is the entry step;
+ * every other screen is lazy-loaded so visiting `/create/informational` does
+ * not pull the rest of the wizard into the initial bundle.
  */
 
+import dynamic from "next/dynamic";
 import type { ReactNode } from "react";
 import type { CreateFlowStep } from "../types";
 import { InformationalScreen } from "./informational/InformationalScreen";
-import { CreateFlowTextFieldScreen } from "./text/CreateFlowTextFieldScreen";
-import { CommunitySizeSelectScreen } from "./select/CommunitySizeSelectScreen";
-import { CommunityStructureSelectScreen } from "./select/CommunityStructureSelectScreen";
-import { CoreValuesSelectScreen } from "./select/CoreValuesSelectScreen";
-import { ConfirmStakeholdersScreen } from "./select/ConfirmStakeholdersScreen";
-import { CommunityUploadScreen } from "./upload/CommunityUploadScreen";
-import { CommunityReviewScreen } from "./review/CommunityReviewScreen";
-import { FinalReviewScreen } from "./review/FinalReviewScreen";
-import { CommunicationMethodsScreen } from "./card/CommunicationMethodsScreen";
-import { MembershipMethodsScreen } from "./card/MembershipMethodsScreen";
-import { ConflictManagementScreen } from "./card/ConflictManagementScreen";
-import { DecisionApproachesScreen } from "./right-rail/DecisionApproachesScreen";
-import { CompletedScreen } from "./completed/CompletedScreen";
+
+const CreateFlowTextFieldScreen = dynamic(
+  () =>
+    import("./text/CreateFlowTextFieldScreen").then((m) => ({
+      default: m.CreateFlowTextFieldScreen,
+    })),
+  { loading: () => null },
+);
+const CommunitySizeSelectScreen = dynamic(
+  () =>
+    import("./select/CommunitySizeSelectScreen").then((m) => ({
+      default: m.CommunitySizeSelectScreen,
+    })),
+  { loading: () => null },
+);
+const CommunityStructureSelectScreen = dynamic(
+  () =>
+    import("./select/CommunityStructureSelectScreen").then((m) => ({
+      default: m.CommunityStructureSelectScreen,
+    })),
+  { loading: () => null },
+);
+const CoreValuesSelectScreen = dynamic(
+  () =>
+    import("./select/CoreValuesSelectScreen").then((m) => ({
+      default: m.CoreValuesSelectScreen,
+    })),
+  { loading: () => null },
+);
+const ConfirmStakeholdersScreen = dynamic(
+  () =>
+    import("./select/ConfirmStakeholdersScreen").then((m) => ({
+      default: m.ConfirmStakeholdersScreen,
+    })),
+  { loading: () => null },
+);
+const CommunityUploadScreen = dynamic(
+  () =>
+    import("./upload/CommunityUploadScreen").then((m) => ({
+      default: m.CommunityUploadScreen,
+    })),
+  { loading: () => null },
+);
+const CommunityReviewScreen = dynamic(
+  () =>
+    import("./review/CommunityReviewScreen").then((m) => ({
+      default: m.CommunityReviewScreen,
+    })),
+  { loading: () => null },
+);
+const FinalReviewScreen = dynamic(
+  () =>
+    import("./review/FinalReviewScreen").then((m) => ({
+      default: m.FinalReviewScreen,
+    })),
+  { loading: () => null },
+);
+const CommunicationMethodsScreen = dynamic(
+  () =>
+    import("./card/CommunicationMethodsScreen").then((m) => ({
+      default: m.CommunicationMethodsScreen,
+    })),
+  { loading: () => null },
+);
+const MembershipMethodsScreen = dynamic(
+  () =>
+    import("./card/MembershipMethodsScreen").then((m) => ({
+      default: m.MembershipMethodsScreen,
+    })),
+  { loading: () => null },
+);
+const ConflictManagementScreen = dynamic(
+  () =>
+    import("./card/ConflictManagementScreen").then((m) => ({
+      default: m.ConflictManagementScreen,
+    })),
+  { loading: () => null },
+);
+const DecisionApproachesScreen = dynamic(
+  () =>
+    import("./right-rail/DecisionApproachesScreen").then((m) => ({
+      default: m.DecisionApproachesScreen,
+    })),
+  { loading: () => null },
+);
+const CompletedScreen = dynamic(
+  () =>
+    import("./completed/CompletedScreen").then((m) => ({
+      default: m.CompletedScreen,
+    })),
+  { loading: () => null },
+);
 
 export function renderCreateFlowScreen(screenId: CreateFlowStep): ReactNode {
   switch (screenId) {

app/(app)/create/utils/createFlowPaths.ts

@@ -7,13 +7,14 @@ import type { CreateFlowStep } from "../types";
 import {
   CREATE_FLOW_MANAGE_STAKEHOLDERS_QUERY,
   CREATE_FLOW_REVIEW_RETURN_QUERY_KEY,
+  FIRST_STEP,
 } from "./flowSteps";
 
 export const CREATE_ROUTES = {
   root: "/",
   createRoot: "/create",
-  /** First step resolves via redirect from `/create`. */
-  createFirstStep: "/create",
+  /** Direct path to the first wizard step so client navigations skip the redirect hop. */
+  createFirstStep: `/create/${FIRST_STEP}`,
   review: "/create/review",
   finalReview: "/create/final-review",
   completed: "/create/completed",

app/(app)/create/utils/prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry.ts

@@ -4,19 +4,73 @@ import { clearCoreValueDetailsLocalStorage } from "./coreValueDetailsLocalStorag
 
 import { isBackendSyncEnabled } from "../../../../lib/create/backendSyncEnabled";
 
+/**
+ * Sentinel set on click and cleared once the in-flight DELETE settles. Read by
+ * {@link SignedInDraftHydration} so it skips the server draft fetch while the
+ * fresh-entry cleanup is racing the user's first paint of `/create`.
+ */
+export const FRESH_ENTRY_PENDING_KEY = "create:fresh-entry-pending";
+
+export function hasFreshEntryPending(): boolean {
+  if (typeof window === "undefined") return false;
+  try {
+    return window.sessionStorage.getItem(FRESH_ENTRY_PENDING_KEY) === "1";
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
+function setFreshEntryPending(): void {
+  if (typeof window === "undefined") return;
+  try {
+    window.sessionStorage.setItem(FRESH_ENTRY_PENDING_KEY, "1");
+  } catch {
+    /* ignore — sessionStorage may be unavailable */
+  }
+}
+
+function clearFreshEntryPending(): void {
+  if (typeof window === "undefined") return;
+  try {
+    window.sessionStorage.removeItem(FRESH_ENTRY_PENDING_KEY);
+  } catch {
+    /* ignore */
+  }
+}
+
 /**
  * Call **before** navigating into `/create` from marketing or profile “new rule”
  * entry points so signed-in + sync matches an anonymous fresh start: wipe
  * `localStorage` draft keys and, when sync is on, `DELETE /api/drafts/me`.
- * Anonymous `DELETE` is harmless (401). Await ensures the server draft is gone
- * before mount so {@link SignedInDraftHydration} does not rehydrate stale work.
+ *
+ * Synchronous variant: returns immediately after clearing local state and
+ * scheduling the server draft delete in the background. Sets a sessionStorage
+ * sentinel that {@link SignedInDraftHydration} checks before fetching, so the
+ * brief race window does not hydrate from a not-yet-deleted server draft.
  *
  * Do **not** use for “Continue draft” — that path should load the server draft.
  */
+export function prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync(): void {
+  clearAnonymousCreateFlowStorage();
+  clearCoreValueDetailsLocalStorage();
+  if (!isBackendSyncEnabled()) return;
+  setFreshEntryPending();
+  void deleteServerDraft().finally(clearFreshEntryPending);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Awaitable variant kept for callers that genuinely need the DELETE to settle
+ * before continuing (e.g. tests, programmatic reset flows). Most click handlers
+ * should use {@link prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync} for instant navigation.
+ */
 export async function prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry(): Promise<void> {
   clearAnonymousCreateFlowStorage();
   clearCoreValueDetailsLocalStorage();
-  if (isBackendSyncEnabled()) {
+  if (!isBackendSyncEnabled()) return;
+  setFreshEntryPending();
+  try {
     await deleteServerDraft();
+  } finally {
+    clearFreshEntryPending();
   }
 }

app/(app)/layout.tsx

@@ -1,8 +1,20 @@
 import type { ReactNode } from "react";
+import ConditionalNavigation from "../components/navigation/ConditionalNavigation";
+
+// Reads `cr_session` via Server Components on every navigation so the header
+// matches the HttpOnly cookie on the first HTML response (no "Log in" flash
+// before `/api/auth/session`). Scoped here instead of the root layout so
+// `(marketing)` can render statically.
+export const dynamic = "force-dynamic";
 
 // Signed-in product surfaces (`/create/*`, `/login`) run without the marketing
 // footer. `/profile` adds it via `profile/layout.tsx`. Per-route chrome (e.g.
 // CreateFlow) is composed in nested layouts.
 export default function AppLayout({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
-  return <main className="flex-1">{children}</main>;
+  return (
+    <>
+      <ConditionalNavigation />
+      <main className="flex-1">{children}</main>
+    </>
+  );
 }

app/(app)/profile/ProfilePageClient.tsx

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import {
 import type { CreateFlowStep } from "../create/types";
 import { clearAnonymousCreateFlowStorage } from "../create/utils/anonymousDraftStorage";
 import { clearCoreValueDetailsLocalStorage } from "../create/utils/coreValueDetailsLocalStorage";
-import { prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry } from "../create/utils/prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry";
+import { prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync } from "../create/utils/prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry";
 import { useMediaQuery } from "../../hooks/useMediaQuery";
 import {
   ProfilePageSignedOutView,
@@ -253,10 +253,8 @@ export default function ProfilePageClient() {
   }, [draft, router]);
 
   const handleStartNewCustomRule = useCallback(() => {
-    void (async () => {
-      await prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry();
-      router.push("/create");
-    })();
+    prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync();
+    router.push("/create/informational");
   }, [router]);
 
   const handleRequestDeleteDraft = useCallback(() => {

app/(marketing)/layout.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import dynamic from "next/dynamic";
 import type { ReactNode } from "react";
+import MarketingNavigation from "../components/navigation/MarketingNavigation";
 
 // Site footer is part of the public marketing chrome only — not rendered for
 // signed-in product surfaces, admin dashboards, or dev previews. See
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ const Footer = dynamic(() => import("../components/navigation/Footer"), {
 export default function MarketingLayout({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
   return (
     <>
+      <MarketingNavigation />
       <main className="flex-1">{children}</main>
       <Footer />
     </>

app/(marketing)/loading.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+/**
+ * Lightweight skeleton shown while the next marketing route streams. Matches
+ * the page background so navigations feel instant on the user's phone instead
+ * of stalling on the previous page until RSC payload arrives.
+ */
+export default function MarketingRouteLoading() {
+  return (
+    <div
+      className="min-h-screen w-full bg-[var(--color-surface-default-primary)]"
+      aria-busy="true"
+      aria-live="polite"
+    />
+  );
+}

app/(marketing)/templates/TemplatesPageClient.tsx

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { useRouter, useSearchParams } from "next/navigation";
 import HeaderLockup from "../../components/type/HeaderLockup";
 import { GovernanceTemplateGrid } from "../../components/sections/GovernanceTemplateGrid";
 import type { TemplateGridCardEntry } from "../../../lib/templates/templateGridPresentation";
-import { prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry } from "../../(app)/create/utils/prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry";
+import { prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync } from "../../(app)/create/utils/prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry";
 import {
   buildTemplateReviewHref,
   TEMPLATES_FACET_RECOMMEND_QUERY,
@@ -102,13 +102,7 @@ function TemplatesGrid({
       entries={entries}
       onTemplateClick={(slug) => {
         if (!fromFlow) {
-          void (async () => {
-            await prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry();
-            router.push(
-              buildTemplateReviewHref(slug, { fromCreateWizard: fromFlow }),
-            );
-          })();
-          return;
+          prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync();
         }
         router.push(
           buildTemplateReviewHref(slug, { fromCreateWizard: fromFlow }),

app/(marketing)/use-cases/page.tsx

@@ -15,7 +15,10 @@ import TripleTextBlock from "../../components/type/TripleTextBlock";
 import type { TripleTextBlockColumn } from "../../components/type/TripleTextBlock";
 import AskOrganizer from "../../components/sections/AskOrganizer";
 import { MarketingRuleStackSection } from "../_components/MarketingRuleStackSection";
-import { getAssetPath, vectorMarkPath } from "../../../lib/assetUtils";
+import WorkerCoopMark from "../../../public/assets/vector/worker-coop.svg";
+import MutualAidMark from "../../../public/assets/vector/mutual-aid.svg";
+import OpenSourceMark from "../../../public/assets/vector/open-source.svg";
+import DaoMark from "../../../public/assets/vector/dao.svg";
 
 const RelatedArticles = dynamic(
   () => import("../../components/sections/RelatedArticles"),
@@ -41,12 +44,12 @@ const CASE_STUDY_LINK_CLASS = [
   "active:scale-[0.98]",
 ].join(" ");
 
-/** Matches `pages.useCases.groups.items` order ↔ `public/assets/vector/*.svg`. */
-const USE_CASES_GROUP_VECTOR_SLUGS = [
-  "worker-coop",
-  "mutual-aid",
-  "open-source",
-  "dao",
+/** Matches `pages.useCases.groups.items` order ↔ inlined vector mark components. */
+const USE_CASES_GROUP_MARKS = [
+  WorkerCoopMark,
+  MutualAidMark,
+  OpenSourceMark,
+  DaoMark,
 ] as const;
 
 const USE_CASES_RELATED_SENTINEL_SLUG = "__use-cases-page__";
@@ -77,24 +80,20 @@ export default function UseCasesPage() {
     page.groups.items,
   );
 
-  const groupItems: GroupsItem[] = groupItemsRaw.map((item, index) => ({
+  const groupItems: GroupsItem[] = groupItemsRaw.map((item, index) => {
+    const Mark = USE_CASES_GROUP_MARKS[index] ?? USE_CASES_GROUP_MARKS[0];
+    return {
       ...item,
       icon: (
-      /* eslint-disable-next-line @next/next/no-img-element -- small vector marks from `public/assets/vector` */
-      <img
-        alt=""
+        <Mark
           aria-hidden
-        className="block size-9 shrink-0 object-contain"
-        height={36}
-        src={getAssetPath(
-          vectorMarkPath(
-            USE_CASES_GROUP_VECTOR_SLUGS[index] ?? USE_CASES_GROUP_VECTOR_SLUGS[0],
-          ),
-        )}
+          className="block size-9 shrink-0"
           width={36}
+          height={36}
         />
       ),
-  }));
+    };
+  });
 
   const askOrganizerData = {
     title: page.askOrganizer.title,

app/components/asset/Avatar/Avatar.tsx

@@ -24,7 +24,15 @@ const Avatar = memo<AvatarProps>(
 
     return (
       /* eslint-disable-next-line @next/next/no-img-element -- avatar image from URL */
-      <img src={src} alt={alt} className={baseStyles} {...props} />
+      <img
+        src={src}
+        alt={alt}
+        className={baseStyles}
+        loading="eager"
+        decoding="async"
+        fetchPriority="high"
+        {...props}
+      />
     );
   },
 );

app/components/cards/CaseStudy/CaseStudy.view.tsx

@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 "use client";
 
-import Image from "next/image";
 import { memo } from "react";
-import { caseStudyVisualPath, getAssetPath } from "../../../../lib/assetUtils";
+import type { ComponentType, SVGProps } from "react";
+import MutualAidArt from "../../../../public/assets/case-study/case-study-mutual-aid.svg";
+import FoodNotBombsArt from "../../../../public/assets/case-study/case-study-food-not-bombs.svg";
+import BoulderCountyStreetMedicsArt from "../../../../public/assets/case-study/case-study-boulder-county-street-medics.svg";
 import type { CaseStudyProps } from "./CaseStudy.types";
 
 const SURFACE_CLASS: Record<CaseStudyProps["surface"], string> = {
@@ -11,11 +13,23 @@ const SURFACE_CLASS: Record<CaseStudyProps["surface"], string> = {
   rose: "bg-[var(--color-surface-invert-brand-red)]",
 };
 
-/** Default art per tile: Figma-exported SVG composites (305×305 incl. rounded bg). */
-const SURFACE_ART: Record<CaseStudyProps["surface"], string> = {
-  lavender: getAssetPath(caseStudyVisualPath("lavender")),
-  neutral: getAssetPath(caseStudyVisualPath("neutral")),
-  rose: getAssetPath(caseStudyVisualPath("rose")),
+/**
+ * Inline SVGR components avoid the network round-trip the prior `next/image`
+ * version required, so the illustration paints with the colored tile shell.
+ */
+const SURFACE_ART: Record<
+  CaseStudyProps["surface"],
+  ComponentType<SVGProps<SVGSVGElement>>
+> = {
+  lavender: MutualAidArt,
+  neutral: FoodNotBombsArt,
+  rose: BoulderCountyStreetMedicsArt,
+};
+
+const SURFACE_ART_DATA_KEY: Record<CaseStudyProps["surface"], string> = {
+  lavender: "case-study-mutual-aid",
+  neutral: "case-study-food-not-bombs",
+  rose: "case-study-boulder-county-street-medics",
 };
 
 /** Figma: ~23px corner (“Card / CaseStudy” shells). */
@@ -27,6 +41,7 @@ function CaseStudyView({
   visual,
   className = "",
 }: CaseStudyProps) {
+  const Art = SURFACE_ART[surface];
   return (
     <div
       data-figma-node="21993-32352"
@@ -35,14 +50,13 @@ function CaseStudyView({
       {visual ? (
         <div className="flex size-full items-center justify-center p-2">{visual}</div>
       ) : (
-        <Image
-          src={SURFACE_ART[surface]}
-          alt={imageAlt}
+        <Art
+          role="img"
+          aria-label={imageAlt}
+          data-case-study-art={SURFACE_ART_DATA_KEY[surface]}
           width={305}
           height={305}
-          unoptimized
           className="pointer-events-none size-full select-none object-contain object-center"
-          draggable={false}
         />
       )}
     </div>

app/components/navigation/MarketingNavigation.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+"use client";
+
+import { memo } from "react";
+import { usePathname } from "next/navigation";
+import { isChromelessNavigationPath } from "../../../lib/navigationChromelessPath";
+import TopWithPathname from "./Top/TopWithPathname";
+
+/**
+ * Marketing-only navigation. Skips the server-side `getNavAuthSignedIn()` call
+ * so marketing pages can render statically (no `force-dynamic`); `TopWithPathname`
+ * fetches `/api/auth/session` on mount and updates the header from "Log in" to
+ * "Profile" when the user is signed in. Brief mismatch is acceptable here —
+ * `(app)` / `(admin)` keep the server-rendered nav.
+ */
+const MarketingNavigation = memo(() => {
+  const pathname = usePathname();
+
+  if (isChromelessNavigationPath(pathname)) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  return <TopWithPathname initialSignedIn={false} />;
+});
+
+MarketingNavigation.displayName = "MarketingNavigation";
+
+export default MarketingNavigation;

app/components/navigation/Top/Top.container.tsx

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import Button from "../../buttons/Button";
 import AvatarContainer from "../../asset/AvatarContainer";
 import Avatar from "../../asset/Avatar";
 import { getAssetPath, ASSETS } from "../../../../lib/assetUtils";
-import { prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry } from "../../../(app)/create/utils/prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry";
+import { prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync } from "../../../(app)/create/utils/prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry";
 import { TopView } from "./Top.view";
 import type { TopProps, NavSize } from "./Top.types";
 
@@ -51,15 +51,14 @@ const TopContainer = memo<TopProps>(
     /**
      * `Top` is hidden on `/create` routes by ConditionalNavigationClient, so
      * this button is always clicked from outside the wizard. Clears anonymous
-     * `localStorage` and, when backend sync is on, deletes the server draft
-     * so signed-in users get the same fresh start as guests (see
-     * {@link prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry}).
+     * `localStorage` synchronously and, when backend sync is on, fires the
+     * server `DELETE /api/drafts/me` in the background. `SignedInDraftHydration`
+     * reads the `create:fresh-entry-pending` sentinel and waits before fetching
+     * (see {@link prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync}).
      */
     const handleCreateRuleClick = useCallback(() => {
-      void (async () => {
-        await prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry();
-        router.push("/create");
-      })();
+      prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync();
+      router.push("/create/informational");
     }, [router]);
 
     // Schema markup for site navigation

app/components/sections/QuoteBlock/QuoteBlock.container.tsx

@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ const QuoteBlockContainer = memo<QuoteBlockProps>(
     onError,
   }) => {
     const [imageError, setImageError] = useState(false);
-    const [imageLoading, setImageLoading] = useState(true);
 
     // Variant configurations
     const variants: Record<string, VariantConfig> = {
@@ -97,16 +96,13 @@ const QuoteBlockContainer = memo<QuoteBlockProps>(
     const quoteId = `${baseId}-content`;
     const authorId = `${baseId}-author`;
 
-    // Error handling functions
     const handleImageError = (error: unknown) => {
       logger.warn(
         `QuoteBlock: Failed to load avatar image for ${author}:`,
         error,
       );
       setImageError(true);
-      setImageLoading(false);
 
-      // Call error callback if provided
       if (onError) {
         onError({
           type: "image_load_error",
@@ -118,11 +114,6 @@ const QuoteBlockContainer = memo<QuoteBlockProps>(
       }
     };
 
-    const handleImageLoad = () => {
-      setImageLoading(false);
-      setImageError(false);
-    };
-
     // Validate required props
     if (variantProp === "statement") {
       if (!quote?.trim() || !quoteSecondary?.trim()) {
@@ -166,9 +157,7 @@ const QuoteBlockContainer = memo<QuoteBlockProps>(
         authorId={authorId}
         config={config}
         imageError={imageError}
-        imageLoading={imageLoading}
         currentAvatarSrc={currentAvatarSrc}
-        onImageLoad={handleImageLoad}
         onImageError={handleImageError}
       />
     );

app/components/sections/QuoteBlock/QuoteBlock.types.ts

@@ -52,8 +52,6 @@ export interface QuoteBlockViewProps {
   authorId: string;
   config: VariantConfig;
   imageError: boolean;
-  imageLoading: boolean;
   currentAvatarSrc: string;
-  onImageLoad: () => void;
   onImageError: (_error: unknown) => void;
 }

app/components/sections/QuoteBlock/QuoteBlock.view.tsx

@@ -17,9 +17,7 @@ function QuoteBlockView({
   authorId,
   config,
   imageError,
-  imageLoading,
   currentAvatarSrc,
-  onImageLoad,
   onImageError,
 }: QuoteBlockViewProps) {
   const t = useTranslation("quoteBlock");
@@ -89,7 +87,6 @@ function QuoteBlockView({
 
         <div className={`flex flex-col ${config.gap} relative z-10`}>
           <div className={`flex flex-col ${config.avatarGap}`}>
-            {/* Avatar with error handling */}
             <div className="relative">
               {!imageError ? (
                 <Image
@@ -97,26 +94,12 @@ function QuoteBlockView({
                   alt={avatarAlt}
                   width={64}
                   height={64}
-                  className={`filter sepia ${
-                    config.avatar
-                  } transition-opacity duration-300 ${
-                    imageLoading ? "opacity-0" : "opacity-100"
-                  }`}
-                  loading="lazy"
+                  className={`filter sepia ${config.avatar}`}
+                  loading="eager"
+                  priority
                   onError={onImageError}
-                  onLoad={onImageLoad}
                 />
-              ) : null}
-
-              {/* Loading state */}
-              {imageLoading && !imageError && (
-                <div
-                  className={`absolute inset-0 bg-gray-200 animate-pulse rounded-full ${config.avatar}`}
-                />
-              )}
-
-              {/* Error state - show initials */}
-              {imageError && (
+              ) : (
                 <div
                   className={`flex items-center justify-center bg-gray-300 rounded-full ${config.avatar} text-gray-600 font-bold`}
                 >

app/components/sections/RuleStack/RuleStack.container.tsx

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { memo, useEffect, useState } from "react";
 import { useRouter } from "next/navigation";
 import { useTranslation } from "../../../contexts/MessagesContext";
 import { logger } from "../../../../lib/logger";
-import { prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry } from "../../../(app)/create/utils/prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry";
+import { prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync } from "../../../(app)/create/utils/prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry";
 import {
   fetchTemplates,
   isTemplatesFetchAborted,
@@ -99,10 +99,8 @@ const RuleStackContainer = memo<RuleStackProps>(
     logger.debug(`${slug} template clicked`);
     // Marketing home “Popular templates”: same fresh start as Top “Create rule”
     // (local + server draft when sync) so stale state cannot break template apply.
-    void (async () => {
-      await prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry();
+    prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync();
     router.push(`/create/review-template/${encodeURIComponent(slug)}`);
-    })();
   };
 
   return (

app/layout.tsx

@@ -6,10 +6,11 @@ import { MessagesProvider } from "./contexts/MessagesContext";
 import messages from "../messages/en/index";
 import { ASSETS, getAssetPath } from "../lib/assetUtils";
 import "./globals.css";
-import ConditionalNavigation from "./components/navigation/ConditionalNavigation";
 
-/** Header reads `cr_session` via Server Components; must not use prerendered guest HTML. */
-export const dynamic = "force-dynamic";
+// `force-dynamic` is now scoped to `(app)/layout.tsx` and `(admin)/layout.tsx`
+// (the only groups that read the session via `ConditionalNavigation`). Marketing
+// renders a client-side `MarketingNavigation` so its HTML can be statically
+// optimized — TTFB drops to CDN speed for guests.
 
 const inter = Inter({
   subsets: ["latin"],
@@ -34,7 +35,9 @@ const spaceGrotesk = Space_Grotesk({
   weight: ["400", "500", "700"],
   variable: "--font-space-grotesk",
   display: "swap",
-  preload: true,
+  // Below-the-fold (subtitle in `ContentLockup` only). Skipping preload keeps
+  // the marketing critical-path bytes for Inter + Bricolage.
+  preload: false,
   fallback: ["system-ui", "arial"],
 });
 
@@ -116,15 +119,32 @@ export default function RootLayout({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
 
   return (
     <html lang="en" className="font-sans">
+      <head>
+        <link
+          rel="preload"
+          as="image"
+          href={getAssetPath(ASSETS.AVATAR_1)}
+          type="image/svg+xml"
+        />
+        <link
+          rel="preload"
+          as="image"
+          href={getAssetPath(ASSETS.AVATAR_2)}
+          type="image/svg+xml"
+        />
+        <link
+          rel="preload"
+          as="image"
+          href={getAssetPath(ASSETS.AVATAR_3)}
+          type="image/svg+xml"
+        />
+      </head>
       <body
         className={`${inter.variable} ${bricolageGrotesque.variable} ${spaceGrotesk.variable}`}
       >
         <MessagesProvider messages={messages}>
           <AuthModalProvider>
-            <div className="min-h-screen flex flex-col">
-              <ConditionalNavigation />
-              {children}
-            </div>
+            <div className="min-h-screen flex flex-col">{children}</div>
           </AuthModalProvider>
         </MessagesProvider>
       </body>

messages/en/pages/useCases.json

@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
   "tripleStep": {
     "heading": "Get recommendations that will make organizing easier",
     "ctaText": "Create Rule",
-    "ctaHref": "/create",
+    "ctaHref": "/create/informational",
     "steps": [
       {
         "title": "Get your stakeholders together",
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
   "tripleTextBlock": {
     "title": "Why Horizontal groups need CommunityRule",
     "ctaText": "Setup your community",
-    "ctaHref": "/create",
+    "ctaHref": "/create/informational",
     "columns": [
       {
         "title": "Share Leadership and Prevent Burnout",

next.config.mjs

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ const nextConfig = {
   // Image optimization
   images: {
     formats: ["image/webp", "image/avif"],
-    minimumCacheTTL: 60,
+    minimumCacheTTL: 31536000,
     dangerouslyAllowSVG: true,
     contentSecurityPolicy: "default-src 'self'; script-src 'none'; sandbox;",
     remotePatterns: [
@@ -70,6 +70,18 @@ const nextConfig = {
           },
         ],
       },
+      {
+        // Long-cache static marketing art (avatars, vectors, case-study, etc.)
+        // since the file content is hashed into the URL by Next at request time
+        // through the image optimizer for raster, and changes require a deploy.
+        source: "/assets/:path*\\.(svg|png|webp|avif|jpg|jpeg)",
+        headers: [
+          {
+            key: "Cache-Control",
+            value: "public, max-age=31536000, immutable",
+          },
+        ],
+      },
     ];
   },
   webpack(config, { dev, isServer }) {

tests/components/Top.test.tsx

@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ describe('Top "Create rule" button', () => {
    * in-flight anonymous draft so the wizard always starts fresh. See
    * handleCreateRuleClick in Top.container.tsx for the contract.
    */
-  it("clears anonymous draft + core-value-details localStorage before routing to /create", async () => {
+  it("clears anonymous draft + core-value-details localStorage before routing to /create/informational", async () => {
     window.localStorage.setItem(
       CREATE_FLOW_ANONYMOUS_KEY,
       JSON.stringify({ title: "Stale community" }),
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ describe('Top "Create rule" button', () => {
     await userEvent.click(btn);
 
     await waitFor(() => {
-      expect(pushMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith("/create");
+      expect(pushMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith("/create/informational");
     });
     expect(window.localStorage.getItem(CREATE_FLOW_ANONYMOUS_KEY)).toBeNull();
     expect(

tests/components/cards/CaseStudy.test.tsx

@@ -10,22 +10,24 @@ describe("CaseStudy", () => {
     expect(container.querySelector('[data-figma-node="21993-32352"]')).toBeTruthy();
   });
 
-  it("renders built-in raster when visual is omitted (neutral)", () => {
+  it("renders built-in art when visual is omitted (neutral)", () => {
     render(
       <CaseStudy surface="neutral" imageAlt="Food Not Bombs logo" />,
     );
 
     expect(
       screen.getByRole("img", { name: "Food Not Bombs logo" }),
-    ).toHaveAttribute("src");
+    ).toBeTruthy();
   });
 
   it("uses Mutual Aid vector on lavender surface", () => {
     const { container } = render(
       <CaseStudy surface="lavender" imageAlt="Mutual Aid Colorado logo" />,
     );
-    expect(container.querySelector("img")?.getAttribute("src")).toContain(
-      "case-study-mutual-aid.svg",
-    );
+    expect(
+      container.querySelector("[data-case-study-art]")?.getAttribute(
+        "data-case-study-art",
+      ),
+    ).toBe("case-study-mutual-aid");
   });
 });

tests/unit/Layout.test.jsx

@@ -138,10 +138,13 @@ describe("Group layouts (chrome composition)", () => {
 
   test("AppLayout wraps children in <main flex-1> with no footer", () => {
     const tree = AppLayout({ children: <div>app-child</div> });
-    expect(tree.type).toBe("main");
-    expect(tree.props.className).toContain("flex-1");
+    const main = findDescendant(
+      tree,
+      (n) => n?.type === "main" && n.props?.className?.includes("flex-1"),
+    );
+    expect(main).toBeTruthy();
     expect(
-      findDescendant(tree, (n) => typeof n === "string" && n.includes("app-child")),
+      findDescendant(main, (n) => typeof n === "string" && n.includes("app-child")),
     ).toBeTruthy();
   });
 });

vitest.config.mjs

@@ -13,6 +13,33 @@ export default defineConfig({
         }
       },
     },
+    // Stub .svg imports as inert React components so SVGR-style imports
+    // (`import Foo from "./foo.svg"; <Foo />`) work without webpack/turbopack.
+    // `enforce: "pre"` so we run before Vite's default asset handler that would
+    // otherwise return the URL string.
+    {
+      name: "svg-mock",
+      enforce: "pre",
+      async resolveId(source, importer) {
+        if (!source.endsWith(".svg")) return null;
+        const resolved = await this.resolve(source, importer, {
+          skipSelf: true,
+        });
+        if (!resolved) return null;
+        return { ...resolved, id: `${resolved.id}?svg-mock` };
+      },
+      load(id) {
+        if (id.endsWith(".svg?svg-mock")) {
+          return `import * as React from "react";
+const SvgMock = React.forwardRef(function SvgMock(props, ref) {
+  return React.createElement("svg", { ref, ...props });
+});
+export default SvgMock;
+export const ReactComponent = SvgMock;
+`;
+        }
+      },
+    },
   ],
   esbuild: {
     target: "node18",