diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
index bb9c32b..8afee6d 100644
--- a/.github/pull_request_template.md
+++ b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ Fixes #
 - [ ] I searched [open issues](https://github.com/pewdiepie-archdaemon/odysseus/issues) and [open PRs](https://github.com/pewdiepie-archdaemon/odysseus/pulls) — this is not a duplicate.
 - [ ] This PR targets `main`
 - [ ] My changes are limited to the scope described above — no unrelated refactors or whitespace changes mixed in.
+- [ ] I actually ran the app (`docker compose up` or `uvicorn app:app`) and verified the change works end-to-end. Type-checks and unit tests are not enough.
 
 ## How to Test
 
@@ -33,6 +34,20 @@ Fixes #
 2.
 3.
 
-## Screenshots (UI changes only)
+## Visual / UI changes — REQUIRED if you touched anything that renders
 
-<!-- Drag and drop images or a screen recording here. Delete this section if not a UI change. -->
+**Anything that changes what the UI looks like — buttons, icons, padding, colors, fonts, spacing, layout, CSS, HTML, SVG, or any `static/js/` module that draws to the DOM — needs all of the following. PRs that change rendering without these WILL be closed.**
+
+- [ ] **Screenshot or short clip** of the change in the running app, attached below. Mobile screenshot too if the change affects mobile.
+- [ ] **Style match**: the change uses Odysseus's existing visual language. Specifically:
+  - Reuse existing CSS variables (`--red`, `--fg`, `--bg`, `--card`, `--border`, etc.) — do not introduce new color values, font sizes, or spacing units.
+  - Reuse existing button/input/card/border classes. Don't invent parallel styling.
+  - **No Unicode emoji in UI or code.** Use inline SVG (matching the monochrome icon style already in `static/index.html`) or plain text.
+  - Monospaced font (`Fira Code`) for primary UI text. Don't override.
+  - Dark theme is the default; any light-mode work must be wired through the existing theme system, not hard-coded.
+- [ ] **No new component patterns.** If a similar widget already exists in the app, extend it instead of writing a parallel one.
+- [ ] **I am not an LLM agent submitting a bulk PR.** If you are, please open an issue describing the problem first — bulk auto-generated PRs that don't match the project's visual style are closed on sight, even when the underlying fix is correct.
+
+### Screenshots / clips
+
+<!-- Drag and drop images or a screen recording here. Required for any UI/visual change. -->
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 01ed77b..bdca56b 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -57,12 +57,32 @@ Good pull requests usually include:
 
 - A short explanation of the bug or feature.
 - The files or areas changed.
-- Manual test steps or automated test results.
+- Manual test steps or automated test results from running the actual app, not just the test suite.
 - Screenshots or short recordings for UI changes.
 - Links to related issues, for example `Fixes #123`.
 
 Please keep PRs small. Large PRs that mix unrelated cleanup, formatting, refactors, and behavior changes are much harder to review.
 
+> **Auto-generated PRs.** If you are running an LLM agent (Devin, Cursor, OpenHands, Claude Code, etc.) against this repo: please open an issue describing the problem first instead of opening a PR directly. Bulk agent-generated PRs that don't match the project's visual style or contribution format will be closed without review, even when the underlying fix is correct.
+
+## Style and visual changes
+
+Odysseus has an intentional visual style. PRs that ignore it will be closed without merge, no matter how correct the underlying code is.
+
+Before submitting any change that affects what the app looks like — buttons, icons, fonts, colors, spacing, layout, CSS, HTML, SVG, or any `static/js/` module that draws to the DOM — please:
+
+1. **Run the app locally** and view the change in a browser. Type-checks and unit tests are not enough.
+2. **Attach a screenshot or short clip** of the change in the running app. Add a mobile screenshot too if the change affects mobile.
+3. **Match the existing visual language.** Specifically:
+   - Reuse existing CSS variables (`--red`, `--fg`, `--bg`, `--card`, `--border`, …). Do not introduce new color values, font sizes, or spacing units.
+   - Reuse existing button, input, card, and border classes. Don't invent parallel styling for similar widgets.
+   - **No Unicode emoji in UI or code.** Use inline SVG (matching the monochrome icon style already in `static/index.html`) or plain text.
+   - Monospaced font (`Fira Code`) for primary UI text. Don't override.
+   - Dark theme is the default; any light-mode work goes through the existing theme system, not hard-coded.
+4. **Don't add parallel components.** If a similar widget already exists in the app, extend it instead of writing a new one.
+
+If you are unsure whether a change is "visual," it is. Default to attaching a screenshot.
+
 ## Issue Reports
 
 For bugs, include: