diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8ff03816..300b86f3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Direct Internet Method
 
 <p align="center">
-  <img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/TandemVector-Labs/.github/main/brand/social/DirectInternetMethod.png" alt="Direct Internet Method visual project card" width="720">
+  <img src="assets/project-cover.svg" alt="Direct Internet Method — conceptual vector project artwork, not a product screenshot" width="960">
 </p>
 
 ## Current public release: v1.5.4 Stable (.NET 10 LTS)
diff --git a/assets/project-cover.svg b/assets/project-cover.svg
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0e3f3408
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@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1280 500" width="1280" height="500" role="img" aria-label="Direct Internet Method — conceptual vector project artwork, not a product screenshot"><title>Direct Internet Method</title><desc>Cross-platform connectivity tools. Concept illustration, not a software screenshot.</desc><defs><linearGradient id="bg" x1="0" y1="0" x2="1" y2="1"><stop stop-color="#071226"/><stop offset=".6" stop-color="#102344"/><stop offset="1" stop-color="#1A2242"/></linearGradient><linearGradient id="a" x1="0" y1="0" x2="1" y2="1"><stop stop-color="#72E6DA"/><stop offset="1" stop-color="#72E6DA"/></linearGradient><pattern id="grid" width="42" height="42" patternUnits="userSpaceOnUse"><path d="M42 0H0V42" fill="none" stroke="#84B4E8" stroke-opacity=".09"/></pattern></defs><rect width="1280" height="500" rx="24" fill="url(#bg)"/><rect width="1280" height="500" rx="24" fill="url(#grid)"/><g fill="none" stroke="#63ACDA" stroke-opacity=".24" stroke-width="3"><ellipse cx="1328" cy="250" rx="150" ry="207"/><ellipse cx="1338" cy="250" rx="89" ry="153"/><path d="M1207 0Q1277 65 1291 144"/></g><rect x="75" y="94" width="310" height="310" rx="55" fill="#102744" stroke="#609BC5" stroke-opacity=".55" stroke-width="3"/><g transform="translate(75 94)"><g stroke="#72E6DA" fill="none" stroke-width="10" stroke-linecap="round"><circle cx="155" cy="157" r="104" stroke-opacity=".25"/><path d="M49 159a106 106 0 0 1 204-38"/><path d="M259 157a106 106 0 0 1-204 38"/><path d="M91 158h124m-24-27 29 27-29 27"/></g><circle cx="155" cy="157" r="14" fill="#72E6DA"/></g><g font-family="Segoe UI,Arial,sans-serif"><text x="445" y="140" font-size="18" font-weight="700" letter-spacing="4.4" fill="#72E6DA">TANDEMVECTOR LABS / PROJECT</text><text x="440" y="238" font-size="54" font-weight="750" fill="#F6F8FF">Direct Internet Method</text><text x="445" y="295" font-size="24" fill="#BBD0E9">Cross-platform connectivity tools</text><path d="M445 326H945" stroke="url(#a)" stroke-width="3"/><text x="445" y="372" font-size="19" fill="#96B4CF">Engineering clarity · reproducible work</text></g></svg>