diff --git a/DESIGN.md b/DESIGN.md
index 1eb296f1..2ac85446 100644
--- a/DESIGN.md
+++ b/DESIGN.md
@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@ Surfaces:
 
 - `--bg-page`. Cream/ivory canvas, the body floor. The body uses a vertical gradient from `--bg-page-top` through `--bg-page` (at 24rem) to `--bg-page-end`, with a soft radial highlight in the top-left corner.
 - `--bg-paper`. Warm white for the content shell.
-- `--bg-paper-strong`. Tinted paper for sponsor band, CTA backgrounds, static decoration.
+- `--bg-paper-strong`. Tinted paper for CTA backgrounds and static decoration.
+- `--sponsor-bg`. Deeper warm tint for the sponsor band only, so it reads as its own block between the hero and the table.
 - `--hero-bg-start` → `--hero-bg-mid` → `--hero-bg-end`. Dark earthy hero gradient.
 - `--footer-bg`. Dark warm charcoal footer, part of the same system.
 
@@ -145,7 +146,7 @@ Hard-won sizing rules (do not relax):
 
 Depth comes from **tonal layers**, not heavy shadows.
 
-- The page is a quiet warm canvas (`--bg-page`). The content shell is slightly brighter paper (`--bg-paper`). The sponsor band, CTA backgrounds, and inline decorative blocks step up to `--bg-paper-strong`.
+- The page is a quiet warm canvas (`--bg-page`). The content shell is slightly brighter paper (`--bg-paper`). CTA backgrounds and inline decorative blocks step up to `--bg-paper-strong`; the sponsor band steps further, to `--sponsor-bg`.
 - The hero and the category guide band are the only places with real atmosphere: warm gradients on a dark earthy ground (`--hero-bg-start` → `--hero-bg-mid` → `--hero-bg-end`). Only the hero adds the subtle grid and slow sheen. The sheen and any other motion respect `prefers-reduced-motion`.
 - The footer is a single tonal block in `--footer-bg`, no internal gradients.
 - Two depth treatments are allowed and only these two. The search input combines a 1px inset highlight (`--search-inset`) with a soft warm drop shadow (`--search-shadow`, intensified by `--search-focus-shadow` on focus). The primary CTA button (`.hero-action-primary`) carries a warm drop shadow for press affordance. Both shadows are soft, warm-tinted, and tied to interactive elements. No new drop shadows on cards, panels, rows, or static decoration.
@@ -171,7 +172,7 @@ The component vocabulary is small and table-led. Source of truth: `website/stati
 - **Hero**. Magazine-cover headline, dark earthy ground, kicker and proof microcopy, primary CTA button using `--hero-btn-start` / `--hero-btn-end`. Subtle grid plus slow sheen. Respects `prefers-reduced-motion`.
 - **Jump links**. One per use case in a category hero, plus one for the guide. Underlined like the intro's links, with a trailing ↓. Never tag-styled: tags filter the table or open another page, jump links only scroll.
 - **Guide band**. Everything in a category intro after its "How to choose" list. It sits below the table on the hero's dark gradient, with its H2 above the text.
-- **Sponsor band**. Sits below the hero on the home page and category pages, on `--bg-paper-strong`. Editorial layout, not a logo wall. Sponsor links share the global accent treatment.
+- **Sponsor band**. Sits below the hero on the home page and category pages, on `--sponsor-bg` with a `--line-strong` bottom border. Editorial layout, not a logo wall. Sponsor links share the global accent treatment; each sponsor name ends in a small ↗ in `--accent-deep` to mark it as an outbound link.
 - **CTA**. Warm `--cta-bg`, full-bleed within shell. The button itself uses accent tokens.
 - **Footer**. Dark warm charcoal, part of the same system. Footer links share the global hover and focus treatment.
 - **Search**. Pill input with `--search-inset` interior and `--search-focus-ring` focus ring. Focus shadow uses `--search-focus-shadow`.
diff --git a/website/static/style.css b/website/static/style.css
index 88d3a736..65a10921 100644
--- a/website/static/style.css
+++ b/website/static/style.css
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
   --tag-active-end: oklch(74% 0.11 58);
 
   --cta-bg: oklch(94% 0.025 72);
+  --sponsor-bg: oklch(91% 0.04 68);
 
   --text-xs: 0.8rem;
   --text-sm: 0.95rem;
@@ -625,9 +626,8 @@ kbd {
 
 .sponsor-band {
   padding-block: clamp(2.5rem, 5.5vw, 4rem);
-  background:
-    linear-gradient(180deg, var(--bg-paper-strong), var(--bg-paper));
-  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--line);
+  background: var(--sponsor-bg);
+  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--line-strong);
 }
 
 .sponsor-shell {
@@ -701,6 +701,16 @@ kbd {
   letter-spacing: -0.025em;
 }
 
+.sponsor-name::after {
+  content: "\2197" / "";
+  margin-left: 0.25em;
+  font-family: var(--font-body);
+  font-size: 0.45em;
+  /* Centers the arrow on the name's cap height */
+  vertical-align: 0.33em;
+  color: var(--accent-deep);
+}
+
 .sponsor-desc {
   color: var(--ink-soft);
   font-size: var(--text-lg);