diff --git a/src/installer-dashboard/web/src/App.tsx b/src/installer-dashboard/web/src/App.tsx
index 4c79caf..6448c13 100644
--- a/src/installer-dashboard/web/src/App.tsx
+++ b/src/installer-dashboard/web/src/App.tsx
@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@ import { InstallerDashboard } from "./InstallerDashboard";
 
 export function App(): JSX.Element {
   return (
-    <div>
+    <div className="desktop-shell-app">
       <a className="skip-link" href="#main-content">
         Skip to Main Content
       </a>
-      <main id="main-content" className="dashboard-main">
+      <main id="main-content" className="desktop-shell-app-main">
         <InstallerDashboard />
       </main>
     </div>
diff --git a/src/installer-dashboard/web/src/InstallerDashboard.tsx b/src/installer-dashboard/web/src/InstallerDashboard.tsx
index ea883da..d25d5d4 100644
--- a/src/installer-dashboard/web/src/InstallerDashboard.tsx
+++ b/src/installer-dashboard/web/src/InstallerDashboard.tsx
@@ -1634,22 +1634,26 @@ export function InstallerDashboard(): JSX.Element {
   }, [appUpdate, appUpdateBusy]);
 
   return (
-    <div className="shell">
-      <header className="hero">
-        <div className="hero-topline">
-          <p className="eyebrow">ICA COMMAND CENTER</p>
-          <p className="stamp">Multi-source</p>
-        </div>
-        <h1>Skills & Hooks Dashboard</h1>
-        <p>Manage repositories once, then install source-pinned skills and hooks across targets.</p>
-        <div className="hero-meta">
-          <span>{sources.length} sources</span>
-          <span>{installedSkillCount} skills installed</span>
-          <span>{installedHookCount} hooks installed</span>
+    <div className="shell desktop-shell-frame">
+      <header className="desktop-shell-header">
+        <div className="desktop-shell-header-bar">
+          <div className="desktop-shell-header-copyblock">
+            <p className="eyebrow">ICA DESKTOP WORKSPACE</p>
+            <h1>Installer Workspace</h1>
+            <p className="desktop-shell-header-copy">
+              Keep source and installation operations in a persistent desktop shell instead of a dashboard landing page.
+            </p>
+          </div>
+          <div className="desktop-shell-header-meta" aria-label="Desktop workspace summary">
+            <span>{sources.length} sources</span>
+            <span>{installedSkillCount} skills installed</span>
+            <span>{installedHookCount} hooks installed</span>
+          </div>
         </div>
       </header>
 
-      <section className="desktop-shell-grid" aria-label="Desktop workspace shell">
+      <div className="desktop-shell-workspace">
+        <section className="desktop-shell-grid" aria-label="Desktop workspace shell">
         <article className="panel desktop-shell-card desktop-shell-card-operation panel-spacious">
           <div className="desktop-shell-heading">
             <div>
@@ -1805,28 +1809,28 @@ export function InstallerDashboard(): JSX.Element {
             </ol>
           )}
         </article>
-      </section>
-
-      {error && (
-        <section className="status status-error">
-          <strong>Action needed:</strong> {error}
-        </section>
-      )}
-      {catalogLoading && (
-        <section className="status status-info" role="status" aria-live="polite">
-          <div className="status-head">
-            <strong>Loading skills catalog</strong>
-            <span>{Math.round(catalogLoadingProgress)}%</span>
-          </div>
-          <div className="status-subtle">{catalogLoadingMessage || "Working…"}</div>
-          <div className="status-progress" aria-hidden="true">
-            <div className="status-progress-bar" style={{ width: `${Math.max(5, Math.min(catalogLoadingProgress, 100))}%` }} />
-          </div>
         </section>
-      )}
 
-      <div className="toolbar">
-        <nav className="tab-nav" role="tablist" aria-label="Dashboard sections">
+        {error && (
+          <section className="status status-error">
+            <strong>Action needed:</strong> {error}
+          </section>
+        )}
+        {catalogLoading && (
+          <section className="status status-info" role="status" aria-live="polite">
+            <div className="status-head">
+              <strong>Loading skills catalog</strong>
+              <span>{Math.round(catalogLoadingProgress)}%</span>
+            </div>
+            <div className="status-subtle">{catalogLoadingMessage || "Working…"}</div>
+            <div className="status-progress" aria-hidden="true">
+              <div className="status-progress-bar" style={{ width: `${Math.max(5, Math.min(catalogLoadingProgress, 100))}%` }} />
+            </div>
+          </section>
+        )}
+
+        <div className="toolbar">
+          <nav className="tab-nav" role="tablist" aria-label="Dashboard sections">
           <button
             className={`tab-btn ${activeTab === "skills" ? "is-active" : ""}`}
             type="button"
@@ -1939,9 +1943,9 @@ export function InstallerDashboard(): JSX.Element {
             </section>
           )}
         </div>
-      </div>
+          </div>
 
-      {activeTab === "skills" && (
+        {activeTab === "skills" && (
         <div className="workspace tab-section">
           <aside className="control-rail skills-rail">
             <section className="panel action-panel panel-spacious">
@@ -2234,9 +2238,9 @@ export function InstallerDashboard(): JSX.Element {
             </section>
           </main>
         </div>
-      )}
+        )}
 
-      {activeTab === "hooks" && (
+        {activeTab === "hooks" && (
         <div className="workspace tab-section">
           <aside className="control-rail skills-rail">
             <section className="panel action-panel panel-spacious">
@@ -2367,9 +2371,9 @@ export function InstallerDashboard(): JSX.Element {
             </section>
           </main>
         </div>
-      )}
+        )}
 
-      {activeTab === "settings" && (
+        {activeTab === "settings" && (
         <section className="settings-grid tab-section">
           <article className="panel panel-settings panel-spacious">
             <h2>Repository Management</h2>
@@ -2571,9 +2575,9 @@ export function InstallerDashboard(): JSX.Element {
             </div>
           </article>
         </section>
-      )}
+        )}
 
-      {activeTab === "state" && (
+        {activeTab === "state" && (
         <section className="state-grid tab-section">
           <article className="panel state-intro panel-spacious">
             <h2>States & Reports</h2>
@@ -2826,6 +2830,8 @@ export function InstallerDashboard(): JSX.Element {
         </div>
       )}
 
+      </div>
+
       {skillPickerOpen && (
         <div className="publish-picker-overlay" role="presentation" onClick={() => setSkillPickerOpen(false)}>
           <section
@@ -2844,13 +2850,13 @@ export function InstallerDashboard(): JSX.Element {
                 Close
               </button>
             </div>
-              <input
-                className="input input-search"
-                name="skill-picker-search"
-                autoComplete="off"
-                placeholder="Search by skill, source, or path…"
-                value={skillPickerQuery}
-                onChange={(event) => setSkillPickerQuery(event.target.value)}
+            <input
+              className="input input-search"
+              name="skill-picker-search"
+              autoComplete="off"
+              placeholder="Search by skill, source, or path…"
+              value={skillPickerQuery}
+              onChange={(event) => setSkillPickerQuery(event.target.value)}
               aria-label="Search local skill bundles"
             />
             <div className="publish-picker-list">
diff --git a/src/installer-dashboard/web/src/styles.css b/src/installer-dashboard/web/src/styles.css
index 1a34f2d..a0699b0 100644
--- a/src/installer-dashboard/web/src/styles.css
+++ b/src/installer-dashboard/web/src/styles.css
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
   --text: #121826;
   --text-soft: #4b5b72;
   --text-muted: #65758a;
-  --hero-meta-bg: color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 10%, #f2f5fa);
   --status-error-border: color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 22%, #d5dbe5);
   --status-error-bg: color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 12%, #f6f8fb);
   --status-error-text: #4b5b72;
@@ -75,7 +74,6 @@ body[data-mode="dark"] {
   --text: #e9eef4;
   --text-soft: #c4d0dc;
   --text-muted: #9eacbc;
-  --hero-meta-bg: color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 30%, #1e2329);
   --status-error-border: color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 42%, #3d4652);
   --status-error-bg: color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 24%, #1d2228);
   --status-error-text: #cfdbe7;
@@ -374,71 +372,85 @@ input[type="radio"]:focus-visible {
   padding: var(--space-8) var(--space-6) var(--space-9);
 }
 
-.hero {
-  background: var(--surface);
-  border: 1px solid var(--line);
-  border-radius: 12px;
+.desktop-shell-app {
+  min-height: 100vh;
+}
+
+.desktop-shell-app-main {
+  display: block;
+}
+
+.desktop-shell-frame {
+  display: grid;
+  gap: var(--space-5);
+}
+
+.desktop-shell-header {
+  background:
+    linear-gradient(135deg, color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 7%, var(--surface)) 0%, var(--surface) 62%),
+    var(--surface);
+  border: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--line) 80%, transparent);
+  border-radius: 14px;
   padding: var(--space-5) var(--space-6);
-  box-shadow: none;
-  margin-bottom: var(--space-5);
+  box-shadow: inset 0 1px 0 color-mix(in srgb, #ffffff 36%, transparent);
 }
 
-.hero-topline {
+.desktop-shell-header-bar {
   display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
+  align-items: flex-start;
   justify-content: space-between;
-  gap: var(--space-3);
+  gap: var(--space-4);
 }
 
-.eyebrow {
-  margin: 0;
-  font-size: 0.72rem;
-  text-transform: uppercase;
-  letter-spacing: 0.12em;
-  color: var(--text-muted);
-  font-weight: 400;
+.desktop-shell-header-copyblock {
+  display: grid;
+  gap: var(--space-3);
+  max-width: 46rem;
 }
 
-.stamp {
+.desktop-shell-header h1 {
   margin: 0;
-  border-radius: 8px;
-  border: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--line) 76%, transparent);
-  color: var(--text-soft);
-  background: transparent;
-  padding: 0.14rem 0.46rem;
-  font-size: 0.7rem;
-}
-
-.hero h1 {
-  margin: var(--space-3) 0 0;
-  font-size: clamp(1.38rem, 2.5vw, 1.78rem);
-  line-height: 1.2;
+  font-size: clamp(1.4rem, 2.5vw, 1.82rem);
+  line-height: 1.12;
   font-weight: 300;
-  letter-spacing: -0.01em;
-  text-wrap: balance;
+  letter-spacing: -0.02em;
 }
 
-.hero > p {
-  margin: var(--space-3) 0 0;
+.desktop-shell-header-copy {
+  margin: 0;
   color: var(--text-soft);
-  max-width: 68ch;
-  font-size: 0.94rem;
+  font-size: 0.95rem;
+  line-height: 1.58;
 }
 
-.hero-meta {
-  margin-top: var(--space-4);
+.desktop-shell-header-meta {
   display: flex;
   flex-wrap: wrap;
+  justify-content: flex-end;
   gap: var(--space-2);
 }
 
-.hero-meta span {
-  border-radius: 8px;
-  background: transparent;
-  border: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--line) 75%, transparent);
+.desktop-shell-header-meta span {
+  border-radius: 999px;
+  border: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--line) 76%, transparent);
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--surface) 72%, transparent);
   color: var(--text-soft);
-  padding: 0.15rem 0.44rem;
-  font-size: 0.7rem;
+  padding: 0.2rem 0.55rem;
+  font-size: 0.72rem;
+}
+
+.desktop-shell-workspace {
+  display: grid;
+  gap: var(--space-5);
+}
+
+.eyebrow {
+  margin: 0;
+  font-size: 0.72rem;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.12em;
+  color: var(--text-muted);
+  font-weight: 400;
 }
 
 .desktop-shell-grid {
@@ -1839,10 +1851,6 @@ pre {
   line-height: 1.55;
 }
 
-.dashboard-main {
-  display: block;
-}
-
 .skip-link {
   position: absolute;
   left: 0.75rem;
@@ -1873,10 +1881,19 @@ pre {
     padding: var(--space-7) var(--space-5) var(--space-8);
   }
 
-  .hero {
+  .desktop-shell-header {
     padding: var(--space-5);
   }
 
+  .desktop-shell-header-bar {
+    flex-direction: column;
+    align-items: stretch;
+  }
+
+  .desktop-shell-header-meta {
+    justify-content: flex-start;
+  }
+
   .panel-spacious {
     padding: var(--space-6);
   }
@@ -1971,14 +1988,10 @@ pre {
     grid-column: span 1;
   }
 
-  .hero {
+  .desktop-shell-header {
     padding: var(--space-5);
   }
 
-  .hero-meta {
-    gap: var(--space-1);
-  }
-
   .tab-nav {
     width: 100%;
     gap: var(--space-2);
diff --git a/tests/installer/desktop-shell-frame-red-phase.test.ts b/tests/installer/desktop-shell-frame-red-phase.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db4e079
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/installer/desktop-shell-frame-red-phase.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+import test from "node:test";
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import fs from "node:fs";
+import path from "node:path";
+
+function readWorkspaceFile(relativePath: string): string {
+  return fs.readFileSync(path.resolve(process.cwd(), relativePath), "utf8");
+}
+
+test("RED: app shell stops using dashboard-main as the primary desktop wrapper", () => {
+  const app = readWorkspaceFile("src/installer-dashboard/web/src/App.tsx");
+
+  assert.doesNotMatch(
+    app,
+    /className="dashboard-main"/,
+    "Desktop shell work should remove the dashboard-main wrapper from the main window entry composition.",
+  );
+  assert.match(
+    app,
+    /className="desktop-shell-app"/,
+    "Desktop shell work should introduce a desktop-shell-app wrapper for the main window.",
+  );
+});
+
+test("RED: installer dashboard removes hero landing markup and exposes desktop shell frame regions", () => {
+  const ui = readWorkspaceFile("src/installer-dashboard/web/src/InstallerDashboard.tsx");
+
+  assert.doesNotMatch(
+    ui,
+    /className="hero"/,
+    "Desktop shell work should remove the hero landing section from the main window.",
+  );
+  assert.doesNotMatch(
+    ui,
+    />\s*Skills & Hooks Dashboard\s*</,
+    "Desktop shell work should remove the dashboard landing heading from the main window.",
+  );
+  assert.match(
+    ui,
+    /className="[^"]*desktop-shell-frame[^"]*"/,
+    "Desktop shell work should introduce a desktop-shell-frame root container.",
+  );
+  assert.match(
+    ui,
+    /className="[^"]*desktop-shell-header[^"]*"/,
+    "Desktop shell work should introduce a desktop-shell-header region.",
+  );
+  assert.match(
+    ui,
+    /className="[^"]*desktop-shell-workspace[^"]*"/,
+    "Desktop shell work should introduce a desktop-shell-workspace region.",
+  );
+});