diff --git a/picker/pages/index.astro b/picker/pages/index.astro
index 45c35b159..47a0800bf 100644
--- a/picker/pages/index.astro
+++ b/picker/pages/index.astro
@@ -916,23 +916,28 @@ const questions = [
       <section class="picker-screen" data-screen="04b" data-step="Configure" aria-hidden="true" aria-labelledby="picker-hub-title">
         <div class="picker-container">
           <div class="picker-hub">
-            <h2 id="picker-hub-title" class="picker-question-title">What else would you like to configure?</h2>
+            <div class="picker-question-head">
+              <h2 id="picker-hub-title" class="picker-question-title">What else would you like to configure?</h2>
+              <p class="picker-question-lede">
+                Every choice below already holds a sensible default for your surfaces. Open any card to adjust it, or create your design context right away.
+              </p>
+            </div>
 
             <div class="picker-hub-grid">
               <div class="picker-hub-col">
                 <button class="picker-hub-card" type="button" data-hub-target="06" data-hub-category="material">
                   <span class="picker-hub-eyebrow">Material</span>
                   <span class="picker-hub-title">Motion
+                    <svg class="picker-hub-arrow" viewBox="0 0 16 8" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.5" stroke-linecap="square" aria-hidden="true"><path d="M0 4h14M10 0l4 4-4 4"></path></svg>
                     <span class="picker-hub-mark" data-hub-mark hidden>Edited</span>
-                    <svg class="picker-hub-chevron" viewBox="0 0 20 20" aria-hidden="true"><path d="m7.5 4.5 5 5.5-5 5.5"></path></svg>
                   </span>
                   <span class="picker-hub-summary" data-hub-summary></span>
                 </button>
                 <button class="picker-hub-card" type="button" data-hub-target="09" data-hub-category="material">
                   <span class="picker-hub-eyebrow">Material</span>
                   <span class="picker-hub-title">Corners
+                    <svg class="picker-hub-arrow" viewBox="0 0 16 8" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.5" stroke-linecap="square" aria-hidden="true"><path d="M0 4h14M10 0l4 4-4 4"></path></svg>
                     <span class="picker-hub-mark" data-hub-mark hidden>Edited</span>
-                    <svg class="picker-hub-chevron" viewBox="0 0 20 20" aria-hidden="true"><path d="m7.5 4.5 5 5.5-5 5.5"></path></svg>
                   </span>
                   <span class="picker-hub-summary" data-hub-summary></span>
                 </button>
@@ -942,24 +947,24 @@ const questions = [
                 <button class="picker-hub-card" type="button" data-hub-target="05" data-hub-category="typography">
                   <span class="picker-hub-eyebrow">Typography</span>
                   <span class="picker-hub-title">Type scale
+                    <svg class="picker-hub-arrow" viewBox="0 0 16 8" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.5" stroke-linecap="square" aria-hidden="true"><path d="M0 4h14M10 0l4 4-4 4"></path></svg>
                     <span class="picker-hub-mark" data-hub-mark hidden>Edited</span>
-                    <svg class="picker-hub-chevron" viewBox="0 0 20 20" aria-hidden="true"><path d="m7.5 4.5 5 5.5-5 5.5"></path></svg>
                   </span>
                   <span class="picker-hub-summary" data-hub-summary></span>
                 </button>
                 <button class="picker-hub-card" type="button" data-hub-target="11" data-hub-category="iconography">
                   <span class="picker-hub-eyebrow">Iconography</span>
                   <span class="picker-hub-title">Icon set
+                    <svg class="picker-hub-arrow" viewBox="0 0 16 8" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.5" stroke-linecap="square" aria-hidden="true"><path d="M0 4h14M10 0l4 4-4 4"></path></svg>
                     <span class="picker-hub-mark" data-hub-mark hidden>Edited</span>
-                    <svg class="picker-hub-chevron" viewBox="0 0 20 20" aria-hidden="true"><path d="m7.5 4.5 5 5.5-5 5.5"></path></svg>
                   </span>
                   <span class="picker-hub-summary" data-hub-summary></span>
                 </button>
                 <button class="picker-hub-card" type="button" data-hub-target="08" data-hub-category="material">
                   <span class="picker-hub-eyebrow">Material</span>
                   <span class="picker-hub-title">Boundaries
+                    <svg class="picker-hub-arrow" viewBox="0 0 16 8" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.5" stroke-linecap="square" aria-hidden="true"><path d="M0 4h14M10 0l4 4-4 4"></path></svg>
                     <span class="picker-hub-mark" data-hub-mark hidden>Edited</span>
-                    <svg class="picker-hub-chevron" viewBox="0 0 20 20" aria-hidden="true"><path d="m7.5 4.5 5 5.5-5 5.5"></path></svg>
                   </span>
                   <span class="picker-hub-summary" data-hub-summary></span>
                 </button>
@@ -969,16 +974,16 @@ const questions = [
                 <button class="picker-hub-card" type="button" data-hub-target="07" data-hub-category="material">
                   <span class="picker-hub-eyebrow">Material</span>
                   <span class="picker-hub-title">Layout
+                    <svg class="picker-hub-arrow" viewBox="0 0 16 8" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.5" stroke-linecap="square" aria-hidden="true"><path d="M0 4h14M10 0l4 4-4 4"></path></svg>
                     <span class="picker-hub-mark" data-hub-mark hidden>Edited</span>
-                    <svg class="picker-hub-chevron" viewBox="0 0 20 20" aria-hidden="true"><path d="m7.5 4.5 5 5.5-5 5.5"></path></svg>
                   </span>
                   <span class="picker-hub-summary" data-hub-summary></span>
                 </button>
                 <button class="picker-hub-card" type="button" data-hub-target="10" data-hub-category="material">
                   <span class="picker-hub-eyebrow">Material</span>
                   <span class="picker-hub-title">Depth
+                    <svg class="picker-hub-arrow" viewBox="0 0 16 8" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.5" stroke-linecap="square" aria-hidden="true"><path d="M0 4h14M10 0l4 4-4 4"></path></svg>
                     <span class="picker-hub-mark" data-hub-mark hidden>Edited</span>
-                    <svg class="picker-hub-chevron" viewBox="0 0 20 20" aria-hidden="true"><path d="m7.5 4.5 5 5.5-5 5.5"></path></svg>
                   </span>
                   <span class="picker-hub-summary" data-hub-summary></span>
                 </button>
diff --git a/picker/scripts/palette-picker.js b/picker/scripts/palette-picker.js
index 89611b459..646bee9d1 100644
--- a/picker/scripts/palette-picker.js
+++ b/picker/scripts/palette-picker.js
@@ -2279,18 +2279,52 @@ function hubSurfaceRows(group) {
     }));
 }
 
-function hubLine(text, surface) {
+/* A summary row is a surface pill on the left and the value docked
+   right behind a patina dot, the same signal the surface tabs and the
+   option rows spend on a committed choice. The plain line survives
+   only for the skipped-card message. */
+function hubPlainLine(text) {
   const line = document.createElement('span');
   line.className = 'picker-hub-line';
-  if (surface) {
-    const name = document.createElement('b');
-    name.textContent = surface;
-    line.append(name);
-  }
   line.append(text);
   return line;
 }
 
+function hubRow(surfaceLabel, valueTitle, group, value) {
+  const entry = document.createElement('span');
+  entry.className = 'picker-hub-entry';
+  const pill = document.createElement('span');
+  pill.className = 'picker-hub-pill';
+  const label = document.createElement('span');
+  label.className = 'picker-hub-pill-label';
+  label.textContent = surfaceLabel;
+  const val = document.createElement('span');
+  val.className = 'picker-hub-value';
+  const dot = document.createElement('i');
+  dot.className = 'picker-hub-dot';
+  dot.setAttribute('aria-hidden', 'true');
+  val.append(dot, valueTitle);
+  pill.append(label, val);
+  const note = document.createElement('span');
+  note.className = 'picker-hub-note';
+  const why = value ? hubOptionDesc(group, value) : '';
+  note.textContent = why;
+  note.hidden = !why;
+  entry.append(pill, note);
+  return entry;
+}
+
+/* The one-line reason the current answer is a sound default, read off
+   the option row's own description so the hub never restates copy.
+   dataset.copy is read first because applyAllows swaps textContent for
+   a blocked reason on surfaces that rule the option out. */
+function hubOptionDesc(group, value) {
+  const input = document.querySelector(`input[name="${group}"][value="${value}"]`);
+  const desc = input?.closest('.picker-strategy-option')?.querySelector('.picker-strategy-desc');
+  if (!desc) return '';
+  return (desc.dataset.copy ?? desc.textContent).trim();
+}
+
 function renderHub() {
   if (!hubScreen) return;
   for (const cardNode of hubScreen.querySelectorAll('.picker-hub-card')) {
@@ -2304,7 +2338,7 @@ function renderHub() {
     cardNode.disabled = skipped;
     cardNode.setAttribute('aria-disabled', skipped ? 'true' : 'false');
     if (skipped) {
-      summary.replaceChildren(hubLine('Not asked of these surfaces'));
+      summary.replaceChildren(hubPlainLine('Not asked of these surfaces'));
       cardNode.classList.remove('is-edited');
       mark.hidden = true;
       continue;
@@ -2315,15 +2349,25 @@ function renderHub() {
     if (rows.length === 0) {
       const checked = document.querySelector(`input[name="${group}"]:checked`);
       edited = hubEdited.has(group);
-      lines = [hubLine(checked ? hubOptionTitle(group, checked.value) : '')];
+      lines = [hubRow(
+        'All surfaces',
+        checked ? hubOptionTitle(group, checked.value) : '',
+        group,
+        checked?.value,
+      )];
     } else {
       edited = rows.some((row) => row.chosen);
       if (rows.length > 1 && rows.every((row) => row.value === rows[0].value)) {
-        lines = [hubLine(`${hubOptionTitle(group, rows[0].value)} · all`)];
+        lines = [hubRow('All surfaces', hubOptionTitle(group, rows[0].value), group, rows[0].value)];
       } else if (rows.length === 1) {
-        lines = [hubLine(hubOptionTitle(group, rows[0].value))];
+        lines = [hubRow(hubSurfaceLabel(rows[0].mode), hubOptionTitle(group, rows[0].value), group, rows[0].value)];
       } else {
-        lines = rows.map((row) => hubLine(hubOptionTitle(group, row.value), hubSurfaceLabel(row.mode)));
+        lines = rows.map((row) => hubRow(
+          hubSurfaceLabel(row.mode),
+          hubOptionTitle(group, row.value),
+          group,
+          row.value,
+        ));
       }
     }
     summary.replaceChildren(...lines);
diff --git a/picker/styles/picker.css b/picker/styles/picker.css
index 20c243ce3..68541a992 100644
--- a/picker/styles/picker.css
+++ b/picker/styles/picker.css
@@ -329,6 +329,7 @@ body.picker-page {
 .picker-shell:has(#picker-form[data-current="02"]) .picker-hero-art,
 .picker-shell:has(#picker-form[data-current="03"]) .picker-hero-art,
 .picker-shell:has(#picker-form[data-current="04"]) .picker-hero-art,
+.picker-shell:has(#picker-form[data-current="04b"]) .picker-hero-art,
 .picker-shell:has(#picker-form[data-current="05"]) .picker-hero-art,
 .picker-shell:has(#picker-form[data-current="06"]) .picker-hero-art,
 .picker-shell:has(#picker-form[data-current="07"]) .picker-hero-art,
@@ -4109,7 +4110,7 @@ body.picker-page {
   gap: clamp(12px, 2svh, 18px);
 }
 
-/* Screen 05 is the only question that carries a lede, and one sentence at
+/* Screen 05 and the configure hub carry a lede, and one sentence at
    caption size under a display headline reads as a footnote. Set above the
    body size instead, with the measure pulled in so the sentence breaks into
    two balanced lines rather than one long ruler. */
@@ -7566,6 +7567,11 @@ body.picker-page {
   padding-block: clamp(32px, 5svh, 48px) clamp(24px, 3.5svh, 48px);
 }
 
+.picker-hub .picker-question-lede {
+  max-width: 800px;
+  font-weight: 300;
+}
+
 .picker-hub-grid {
   display: grid;
   grid-template-columns: repeat(3, minmax(0, 1fr));
@@ -7581,10 +7587,11 @@ body.picker-page {
 }
 
 .picker-hub-card {
+  position: relative;
   display: grid;
-  gap: 10px;
+  gap: 16px;
   width: 100%;
-  padding: 20px 24px;
+  padding: 24px 28px;
   text-align: left;
   background: var(--ks-lacquer-raised);
   border: 1px solid var(--ks-rule);
@@ -7596,16 +7603,19 @@ body.picker-page {
 }
 
 .picker-hub-card:hover {
-  background: var(--ks-graphite);
-  border-color: var(--ks-kinpaku-deep);
+  border-color: color-mix(in oklab, var(--ks-patina) 45%, var(--ks-rule));
 }
 
 .picker-hub-card:focus-visible {
-  outline: 1px solid var(--ks-kinpaku);
-  outline-offset: 3px;
+  outline: 2px solid var(--ks-patina-deep);
+  outline-offset: -2px;
+  z-index: 1;
 }
 
 .picker-hub-eyebrow {
+  position: absolute;
+  top: 24px;
+  right: 28px;
   color: var(--ks-text-faint);
   font-size: var(--ks-type-eyebrow-size);
   font-weight: 500;
@@ -7616,31 +7626,29 @@ body.picker-page {
 .picker-hub-title {
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
-  gap: 10px;
+  gap: 8px;
+  padding-right: 72px;
   color: var(--ks-champagne);
   font-size: var(--ks-type-title-size);
   font-weight: var(--ks-type-title-weight);
   line-height: var(--ks-type-title-line);
 }
 
-.picker-hub-chevron {
-  width: 16px;
-  height: 16px;
-  margin-left: auto;
+.picker-hub-arrow {
+  width: 14px;
+  height: 8px;
   flex: 0 0 auto;
-  fill: none;
-  stroke: currentColor;
-  stroke-width: 1.5;
   color: var(--ks-text-faint);
   transition: color 180ms var(--ks-ease), transform 180ms var(--ks-ease);
 }
 
-.picker-hub-card:hover .picker-hub-chevron {
-  color: var(--ks-kinpaku);
+.picker-hub-card:hover .picker-hub-arrow {
+  color: var(--ks-patina);
   transform: translateX(2px);
 }
 
 .picker-hub-mark {
+  margin-left: auto;
   padding: 2px 8px;
   border: 1px solid var(--ks-kinpaku-deep);
   color: var(--ks-kinpaku);
@@ -7652,20 +7660,64 @@ body.picker-page {
 
 .picker-hub-summary {
   display: grid;
-  gap: 6px;
+  gap: 14px;
   color: var(--ks-text-muted);
   font-size: 0.86rem;
   line-height: 1.5;
 }
 
-.picker-hub-line {
+.picker-hub-entry {
   display: grid;
-  gap: 2px;
+  gap: 8px;
 }
 
-.picker-hub-line b {
+.picker-hub-line {
+  display: block;
+}
+
+/* Surface pill wraps the label and the committed value; patina dot
+   plus the text mix mirror the surface tabs' answered state. */
+.picker-hub-pill {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  gap: 12px;
+  max-width: 100%;
+  padding: 4px 9px;
   color: var(--ks-text-faint);
-  font-weight: 500;
+  font-size: 12.5px;
+  letter-spacing: 0.015em;
+  border: 1px solid var(--ks-rule);
+  border-radius: 2px;
+}
+
+.picker-hub-pill-label {
+  flex: 0 0 auto;
+}
+
+.picker-hub-value {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 8px;
+  color: color-mix(in oklab, var(--ks-patina) 85%, var(--ks-champagne));
+  text-align: right;
+}
+
+.picker-hub-dot {
+  flex: 0 0 auto;
+  width: 7px;
+  height: 7px;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  background: var(--ks-patina);
+}
+
+/* Why this answer is a sound default, read off the option row's own
+   description by renderHub(). One note per answer row. */
+.picker-hub-note {
+  padding-inline: 2px;
+  color: var(--ks-text-faint);
+  font-size: 0.84rem;
+  line-height: 1.5;
 }
 
 /* A question no chosen surface takes: present so the menu keeps its
@@ -7681,7 +7733,7 @@ body.picker-page {
 .picker-hub-card.is-skipped .picker-hub-title,
 .picker-hub-card.is-skipped .picker-hub-eyebrow,
 .picker-hub-card.is-skipped .picker-hub-summary,
-.picker-hub-card.is-skipped .picker-hub-chevron {
+.picker-hub-card.is-skipped .picker-hub-arrow {
   color: var(--ks-text-mute-deep);
 }