diff --git a/src/admin/theme.test.ts b/src/admin/theme.test.ts
index 7b7f6cc..4ea2e8c 100644
--- a/src/admin/theme.test.ts
+++ b/src/admin/theme.test.ts
@@ -49,4 +49,13 @@ describe("MUI theme", () => {
     const card = theme.components?.MuiCard?.styleOverrides?.root as any;
     expect(card?.borderRadius).toBe(16);
   });
+
+  it("adds 200-300ms interaction motion (press + focus ring)", () => {
+    const btn = theme.components?.MuiButton?.styleOverrides?.root as any;
+    expect(btn?.transition).toContain("transform");
+    expect(btn?.["&:active"]?.transform).toBe("scale(0.97)");
+    const input = theme.components?.MuiOutlinedInput?.styleOverrides
+      ?.root as any;
+    expect(input?.["&.Mui-focused"]?.boxShadow).toContain("rgba");
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/admin/theme.ts b/src/admin/theme.ts
index afc5dc3..97ece8b 100644
--- a/src/admin/theme.ts
+++ b/src/admin/theme.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ const FONT_BODY = "'Plus Jakarta Sans', system-ui, sans-serif";
 const FONT_HEADING = "'Urbanist', sans-serif";
 const FONT_MONO = "'DM Mono', Menlo, monospace";
 
+// Standard Material easing (matches the legacy --transition cubic-bezier).
+const EASE = "cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1)";
+
 export const theme = createTheme({
   cssVariables: {
     colorSchemeSelector: "[data-theme='%s']",
@@ -51,10 +54,31 @@ export const theme = createTheme({
     MuiButton: {
       defaultProps: { disableElevation: true },
       styleOverrides: {
-        root: { borderRadius: 999, paddingInline: "0.95rem" },
+        root: {
+          borderRadius: 999,
+          paddingInline: "0.95rem",
+          // Snappy press (150ms) + smooth color/shadow (250ms).
+          transition: [
+            `background-color 250ms ${EASE}`,
+            `border-color 250ms ${EASE}`,
+            `color 200ms ${EASE}`,
+            `box-shadow 250ms ${EASE}`,
+            `transform 150ms ${EASE}`,
+            `filter 200ms ${EASE}`,
+          ].join(", "),
+          "&:active": { transform: "scale(0.97)" },
+          "@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)": { transition: "none" },
+        },
         containedPrimary: {
           backgroundImage: "linear-gradient(135deg, #e23a3a, #c01f1f)",
           boxShadow: "0 5px 14px rgba(214,48,49,0.32)",
+          // The gradient can't transition, so animate lift + glow instead.
+          "&:hover": {
+            transform: "translateY(-1px)",
+            filter: "brightness(1.04)",
+            boxShadow: "0 8px 20px rgba(214,48,49,0.42)",
+          },
+          "&:active": { transform: "translateY(0) scale(0.97)" },
         },
       },
     },
@@ -64,11 +88,33 @@ export const theme = createTheme({
           borderRadius: 16,
           boxShadow:
             "0 6px 20px rgba(20,20,40,0.06), 0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.03)",
+          transition: `box-shadow 250ms ${EASE}, transform 250ms ${EASE}`,
         },
       },
     },
     MuiChip: {
-      styleOverrides: { root: { borderRadius: 999, fontWeight: 700 } },
+      styleOverrides: {
+        root: {
+          borderRadius: 999,
+          fontWeight: 700,
+          transition: `background-color 200ms ${EASE}, box-shadow 200ms ${EASE}`,
+        },
+      },
+    },
+    MuiOutlinedInput: {
+      styleOverrides: {
+        root: {
+          // Soft brand focus ring fades in over 200ms.
+          transition: `box-shadow 200ms ${EASE}`,
+          "&.Mui-focused": {
+            boxShadow: "0 0 0 3px rgba(199, 48, 48, 0.12)",
+          },
+          "@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)": { transition: "none" },
+        },
+        notchedOutline: {
+          transition: `border-color 200ms ${EASE}`,
+        },
+      },
     },
   },
 });