diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index df6a994..7150a3f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -31,9 +31,8 @@ templates/
 sass/
   main.scss          # theme — Catppuccin Mocha + amber accent
 static/
-  favicon.svg        # hyperhive hex motif (copy of dashboard branding)
-  hex-mark.svg       # same SVG, used inline in the hero
-  hyperhive.svg      # og:image
+  hyperhive.svg      # single canonical hex motif — favicon + og:image
+                     # + inline hero (via Zola `load_data`)
 flake.nix            # `nix build` → site dist, `nix develop` → zola shell
 ```
 
diff --git a/static/favicon.svg b/static/favicon.svg
deleted file mode 100644
index 81d931c..0000000
--- a/static/favicon.svg
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,97 +0,0 @@
-<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" role="img" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
-  <title>HyperHive</title>
-  <desc>HyperHive icon — hexagonal hive, amber on dark</desc>
-  <defs>
-    <clipPath id="clipH"><circle cx="150" cy="150" r="140"/></clipPath>
-  </defs>
-
-  <g clip-path="url(#clipH)">
-    <rect x="0" y="0" width="300" height="300" fill="#0a0600"/>
-    <g stroke="#ffb300" stroke-width="0.35" opacity="0.07">
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="10"  y2="10"/>  <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="20"  y2="20"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="30"  y2="30"/>  <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="40"  y2="40"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="50"  y2="50"/>  <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="60"  y2="60"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="70"  y2="70"/>  <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="80"  y2="80"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="90"  y2="90"/>  <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="100" y2="100"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="110" y2="110"/> <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="120" y2="120"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="130" y2="130"/> <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="140" y2="140"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="150" y2="150"/> <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="160" y2="160"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="170" y2="170"/> <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="180" y2="180"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="190" y2="190"/> <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="200" y2="200"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="210" y2="210"/> <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="220" y2="220"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="230" y2="230"/> <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="240" y2="240"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="250" y2="250"/> <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="260" y2="260"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="270" y2="270"/> <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="280" y2="280"/>
-    </g>
-
-    <circle cx="150" cy="150" r="118" fill="none" stroke="#ffb300" stroke-width="1" opacity="0.4"/>
-    <circle cx="150" cy="150" r="104" fill="none" stroke="#ff8f00" stroke-width="0.5" opacity="0.25" stroke-dasharray="4 6"/>
-
-    <!-- RING 2 — 6 between-axis hexes, centered on (150,150) instead of (170,170) -->
-    <g fill="#0e0800" stroke="#ffb300" stroke-width="0.7" opacity="0.4">
-      <polygon points="254,105 241,127.5 215,127.5 202,105 215,82.5  241,82.5"/>
-      <polygon points="98,105  85,127.5  59,127.5  46,105  59,82.5   85,82.5"/>
-      <polygon points="176,60  163,82.5  137,82.5  124,60  137,37.5  163,37.5"/>
-      <polygon points="254,195 241,217.5 215,217.5 202,195 215,172.5 241,172.5"/>
-      <polygon points="98,195  85,217.5  59,217.5  46,195  59,172.5  85,172.5"/>
-      <polygon points="176,240 163,262.5 137,262.5 124,240 137,217.5 163,217.5"/>
-    </g>
-
-    <!-- RING 1 — 6 hexes -->
-    <g fill="#150c00" stroke="#ffb300" stroke-width="1.2" opacity="0.8">
-      <polygon points="228,150 215,172.5 189,172.5 176,150 189,127.5 215,127.5"/>
-      <polygon points="202,105 189,127.5 163,127.5 150,105 163,82.5  189,82.5"/>
-      <polygon points="150,105 137,127.5 111,127.5 98,105  111,82.5  137,82.5"/>
-      <polygon points="124,150 111,172.5 85,172.5  72,150  85,127.5  111,127.5"/>
-      <polygon points="150,195 137,217.5 111,217.5 98,195  111,172.5 137,172.5"/>
-      <polygon points="202,195 189,217.5 163,217.5 150,195 163,172.5 189,172.5"/>
-    </g>
-
-    <!-- CENTER hex -->
-    <polygon points="176,150 163,172.5 137,172.5 124,150 137,127.5 163,127.5"
-             fill="#1a0f00" stroke="#ffb300" stroke-width="1.8"/>
-
-    <!-- connections -->
-    <g stroke="#ffb300" stroke-width="1" opacity="0.6">
-      <line x1="176" y1="150" x2="202" y2="150"/>
-      <line x1="124" y1="150" x2="98"  y2="150"/>
-      <line x1="163" y1="128" x2="176" y2="105"/>
-      <line x1="137" y1="128" x2="124" y2="105"/>
-      <line x1="163" y1="173" x2="176" y2="195"/>
-      <line x1="137" y1="173" x2="124" y2="195"/>
-    </g>
-
-    <!-- CENTER node -->
-    <circle cx="150" cy="150" r="10" fill="#ffb300" opacity="0.95"/>
-    <circle cx="150" cy="150" r="5"  fill="#0a0600"/>
-
-    <!-- ring 1 nodes -->
-    <g fill="#ff8f00" opacity="0.9">
-      <circle cx="202" cy="150" r="6"/>
-      <circle cx="176" cy="105" r="6"/>
-      <circle cx="124" cy="105" r="6"/>
-      <circle cx="98"  cy="150" r="6"/>
-      <circle cx="124" cy="195" r="6"/>
-      <circle cx="176" cy="195" r="6"/>
-    </g>
-    <g fill="#0a0600">
-      <circle cx="202" cy="150" r="2.5"/>
-      <circle cx="176" cy="105" r="2.5"/>
-      <circle cx="124" cy="105" r="2.5"/>
-      <circle cx="98"  cy="150" r="2.5"/>
-      <circle cx="124" cy="195" r="2.5"/>
-      <circle cx="176" cy="195" r="2.5"/>
-    </g>
-
-    <rect x="0" y="143" width="300" height="2" fill="#ffb300" opacity="0.07"/>
-  </g>
-
-  <circle cx="150" cy="150" r="140" fill="none" stroke="#ffb300" stroke-width="2.5"/>
-  <circle cx="150" cy="150" r="145" fill="none" stroke="#ff8f00" stroke-width="0.5" opacity="0.4" stroke-dasharray="8 4"/>
-  <g stroke="#ffb300" stroke-width="1.5" fill="none" opacity="0.8">
-    <path d="M44,44 L20,44 L20,70"/>
-    <path d="M256,44 L280,44 L280,70"/>
-    <path d="M44,256 L20,256 L20,230"/>
-    <path d="M256,256 L280,256 L280,230"/>
-  </g>
-</svg>
diff --git a/static/hex-mark.svg b/static/hex-mark.svg
deleted file mode 100644
index 81d931c..0000000
--- a/static/hex-mark.svg
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,97 +0,0 @@
-<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" role="img" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
-  <title>HyperHive</title>
-  <desc>HyperHive icon — hexagonal hive, amber on dark</desc>
-  <defs>
-    <clipPath id="clipH"><circle cx="150" cy="150" r="140"/></clipPath>
-  </defs>
-
-  <g clip-path="url(#clipH)">
-    <rect x="0" y="0" width="300" height="300" fill="#0a0600"/>
-    <g stroke="#ffb300" stroke-width="0.35" opacity="0.07">
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="10"  y2="10"/>  <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="20"  y2="20"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="30"  y2="30"/>  <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="40"  y2="40"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="50"  y2="50"/>  <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="60"  y2="60"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="70"  y2="70"/>  <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="80"  y2="80"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="90"  y2="90"/>  <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="100" y2="100"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="110" y2="110"/> <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="120" y2="120"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="130" y2="130"/> <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="140" y2="140"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="150" y2="150"/> <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="160" y2="160"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="170" y2="170"/> <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="180" y2="180"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="190" y2="190"/> <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="200" y2="200"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="210" y2="210"/> <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="220" y2="220"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="230" y2="230"/> <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="240" y2="240"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="250" y2="250"/> <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="260" y2="260"/>
-      <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="270" y2="270"/> <line x1="0" x2="300" y1="280" y2="280"/>
-    </g>
-
-    <circle cx="150" cy="150" r="118" fill="none" stroke="#ffb300" stroke-width="1" opacity="0.4"/>
-    <circle cx="150" cy="150" r="104" fill="none" stroke="#ff8f00" stroke-width="0.5" opacity="0.25" stroke-dasharray="4 6"/>
-
-    <!-- RING 2 — 6 between-axis hexes, centered on (150,150) instead of (170,170) -->
-    <g fill="#0e0800" stroke="#ffb300" stroke-width="0.7" opacity="0.4">
-      <polygon points="254,105 241,127.5 215,127.5 202,105 215,82.5  241,82.5"/>
-      <polygon points="98,105  85,127.5  59,127.5  46,105  59,82.5   85,82.5"/>
-      <polygon points="176,60  163,82.5  137,82.5  124,60  137,37.5  163,37.5"/>
-      <polygon points="254,195 241,217.5 215,217.5 202,195 215,172.5 241,172.5"/>
-      <polygon points="98,195  85,217.5  59,217.5  46,195  59,172.5  85,172.5"/>
-      <polygon points="176,240 163,262.5 137,262.5 124,240 137,217.5 163,217.5"/>
-    </g>
-
-    <!-- RING 1 — 6 hexes -->
-    <g fill="#150c00" stroke="#ffb300" stroke-width="1.2" opacity="0.8">
-      <polygon points="228,150 215,172.5 189,172.5 176,150 189,127.5 215,127.5"/>
-      <polygon points="202,105 189,127.5 163,127.5 150,105 163,82.5  189,82.5"/>
-      <polygon points="150,105 137,127.5 111,127.5 98,105  111,82.5  137,82.5"/>
-      <polygon points="124,150 111,172.5 85,172.5  72,150  85,127.5  111,127.5"/>
-      <polygon points="150,195 137,217.5 111,217.5 98,195  111,172.5 137,172.5"/>
-      <polygon points="202,195 189,217.5 163,217.5 150,195 163,172.5 189,172.5"/>
-    </g>
-
-    <!-- CENTER hex -->
-    <polygon points="176,150 163,172.5 137,172.5 124,150 137,127.5 163,127.5"
-             fill="#1a0f00" stroke="#ffb300" stroke-width="1.8"/>
-
-    <!-- connections -->
-    <g stroke="#ffb300" stroke-width="1" opacity="0.6">
-      <line x1="176" y1="150" x2="202" y2="150"/>
-      <line x1="124" y1="150" x2="98"  y2="150"/>
-      <line x1="163" y1="128" x2="176" y2="105"/>
-      <line x1="137" y1="128" x2="124" y2="105"/>
-      <line x1="163" y1="173" x2="176" y2="195"/>
-      <line x1="137" y1="173" x2="124" y2="195"/>
-    </g>
-
-    <!-- CENTER node -->
-    <circle cx="150" cy="150" r="10" fill="#ffb300" opacity="0.95"/>
-    <circle cx="150" cy="150" r="5"  fill="#0a0600"/>
-
-    <!-- ring 1 nodes -->
-    <g fill="#ff8f00" opacity="0.9">
-      <circle cx="202" cy="150" r="6"/>
-      <circle cx="176" cy="105" r="6"/>
-      <circle cx="124" cy="105" r="6"/>
-      <circle cx="98"  cy="150" r="6"/>
-      <circle cx="124" cy="195" r="6"/>
-      <circle cx="176" cy="195" r="6"/>
-    </g>
-    <g fill="#0a0600">
-      <circle cx="202" cy="150" r="2.5"/>
-      <circle cx="176" cy="105" r="2.5"/>
-      <circle cx="124" cy="105" r="2.5"/>
-      <circle cx="98"  cy="150" r="2.5"/>
-      <circle cx="124" cy="195" r="2.5"/>
-      <circle cx="176" cy="195" r="2.5"/>
-    </g>
-
-    <rect x="0" y="143" width="300" height="2" fill="#ffb300" opacity="0.07"/>
-  </g>
-
-  <circle cx="150" cy="150" r="140" fill="none" stroke="#ffb300" stroke-width="2.5"/>
-  <circle cx="150" cy="150" r="145" fill="none" stroke="#ff8f00" stroke-width="0.5" opacity="0.4" stroke-dasharray="8 4"/>
-  <g stroke="#ffb300" stroke-width="1.5" fill="none" opacity="0.8">
-    <path d="M44,44 L20,44 L20,70"/>
-    <path d="M256,44 L280,44 L280,70"/>
-    <path d="M44,256 L20,256 L20,230"/>
-    <path d="M256,256 L280,256 L280,230"/>
-  </g>
-</svg>
diff --git a/templates/base.html b/templates/base.html
index 1029387..e9bce4d 100644
--- a/templates/base.html
+++ b/templates/base.html
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
   <meta property="og:image" content="{{ get_url(path='hyperhive.svg') }}">
   <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image">
 
-  <link rel="icon" type="image/svg+xml" href="{{ get_url(path='favicon.svg') }}">
+  <link rel="icon" type="image/svg+xml" href="{{ get_url(path='hyperhive.svg') }}">
   <link rel="stylesheet" href="{{ get_url(path='main.css') }}">
 </head>
 <body>
diff --git a/templates/index.html b/templates/index.html
index f3ebd2b..9b35119 100644
--- a/templates/index.html
+++ b/templates/index.html
@@ -7,8 +7,13 @@
     <div class="hero-art" aria-hidden="true">
       {# Inline so the SVG inherits the page's font + can be styled
          (hover pulse animation on the rings). Same source as the
-         dashboard branding/hyperhive.svg. #}
-      {% set hex_svg = load_data(path="hex-mark.svg") %}
+         dashboard branding/hyperhive.svg — single canonical copy at
+         static/hyperhive.svg drives favicon + og:image + hero inline.
+         If a future visual divergence is wanted (smaller favicon,
+         titled og:image), split into named copies then.
+         `format="plain"` returns the raw markup string instead of
+         parsing the SVG as XML. #}
+      {% set hex_svg = load_data(path="static/hyperhive.svg", format="plain") %}
       {{ hex_svg | safe }}
     </div>
     <div class="hero-text">