diff --git a/install.ps1 b/install.ps1
index a82b11a..a3949fb 100644
--- a/install.ps1
+++ b/install.ps1
@@ -9,10 +9,16 @@ $ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
 $SourceDir = $PSScriptRoot
 $TargetDir = if ($env:MOSAIC_HOME) { $env:MOSAIC_HOME } else { Join-Path $env:USERPROFILE ".config\mosaic" }
 
+function Write-Ok   { param([string]$Msg) Write-Host "  ✓ " -ForegroundColor Green -NoNewline; Write-Host $Msg }
+function Write-Warn { param([string]$Msg) Write-Host "  ⚠ " -ForegroundColor Yellow -NoNewline; Write-Host $Msg }
+function Write-Fail { param([string]$Msg) Write-Host "  ✗ " -ForegroundColor Red -NoNewline; Write-Host $Msg }
+function Write-Step { param([string]$Msg) Write-Host ""; Write-Host $Msg -ForegroundColor White -BackgroundColor DarkGray }
+
+# ── Install framework ────────────────────────────────────────
+Write-Step " Installing Mosaic framework "
+
 if (-not (Test-Path $TargetDir)) { New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $TargetDir -Force | Out-Null }
 
-# Sync files: remove old content, copy new
-Write-Host "[mosaic-install] Copying framework to $TargetDir..."
 Get-ChildItem $TargetDir -Exclude ".git" | Remove-Item -Recurse -Force
 Get-ChildItem $SourceDir -Exclude ".git" | ForEach-Object {
     $dest = Join-Path $TargetDir $_.Name
@@ -24,67 +30,89 @@ Get-ChildItem $SourceDir -Exclude ".git" | ForEach-Object {
     }
 }
 
-Write-Host "[mosaic-install] Installed framework to $TargetDir"
+Write-Ok "Framework installed to $TargetDir"
+
+# ── Post-install tasks ───────────────────────────────────────
+Write-Step " Post-install tasks "
 
-# Run post-install scripts (PowerShell versions)
 $binDir = Join-Path $TargetDir "bin"
 
-Write-Host "[mosaic-install] Linking runtime compatibility assets"
 try {
-    & "$binDir\mosaic-link-runtime-assets.ps1"
+    & "$binDir\mosaic-link-runtime-assets.ps1" *>$null
+    Write-Ok "Runtime assets linked"
 }
 catch {
-    Write-Host "[mosaic-install] WARNING: runtime asset linking failed (framework install still complete)" -ForegroundColor Yellow
+    Write-Warn "Runtime asset linking failed (non-fatal)"
 }
 
-Write-Host "[mosaic-install] Syncing universal skills"
 if ($env:MOSAIC_SKIP_SKILLS_SYNC -eq "1") {
-    Write-Host "[mosaic-install] Skipping skills sync (MOSAIC_SKIP_SKILLS_SYNC=1)"
+    Write-Ok "Skills sync skipped (MOSAIC_SKIP_SKILLS_SYNC=1)"
 }
 else {
     try {
-        & "$binDir\mosaic-sync-skills.ps1"
+        & "$binDir\mosaic-sync-skills.ps1" *>$null
+        Write-Ok "Skills synced"
     }
     catch {
-        Write-Host "[mosaic-install] WARNING: skills sync failed (framework install still complete)" -ForegroundColor Yellow
+        Write-Warn "Skills sync failed (non-fatal)"
     }
 }
 
-Write-Host "[mosaic-install] Migrating runtime-local skills to Mosaic junctions"
 try {
-    & "$binDir\mosaic-migrate-local-skills.ps1" -Apply
+    & "$binDir\mosaic-migrate-local-skills.ps1" -Apply *>$null
+    Write-Ok "Local skills migrated"
 }
 catch {
-    Write-Host "[mosaic-install] WARNING: local skill migration failed (framework install still complete)" -ForegroundColor Yellow
+    Write-Warn "Local skill migration failed (non-fatal)"
 }
 
-Write-Host "[mosaic-install] Running health audit"
 try {
-    & "$binDir\mosaic-doctor.ps1"
+    & "$binDir\mosaic-doctor.ps1" *>$null
+    Write-Ok "Health audit passed"
 }
 catch {
-    Write-Host "[mosaic-install] WARNING: doctor reported issues (run mosaic-doctor.ps1 -FailOnWarn)" -ForegroundColor Yellow
+    Write-Warn "Health audit reported issues — run 'mosaic doctor' for details"
 }
 
-# Ensure mosaic bin is in User PATH persistently
+# ── PATH configuration ───────────────────────────────────────
+Write-Step " PATH configuration "
+
 $mosaicBin = Join-Path $TargetDir "bin"
 $userPath = [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable("Path", "User")
+$pathChanged = $false
+
 if ($userPath -and $userPath.Split(";") -contains $mosaicBin) {
-    Write-Host "[mosaic-install] PATH: $mosaicBin already in User PATH ✓"
+    Write-Ok "Already in User PATH"
 }
 else {
     $newPath = if ($userPath) { "$mosaicBin;$userPath" } else { $mosaicBin }
     [Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("Path", $newPath, "User")
     $env:Path = "$mosaicBin;$env:Path"
-    Write-Host "[mosaic-install] PATH: Added $mosaicBin to User PATH ✓"
-    Write-Host "[mosaic-install] Open a new terminal for PATH changes to take effect."
+    Write-Ok "Added to User PATH"
+    $pathChanged = $true
 }
 
-Write-Host "[mosaic-install] Done."
+# ── Summary ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+Write-Host ""
+Write-Host "  Mosaic installed successfully." -ForegroundColor Green
+Write-Host ""
+
+$nextSteps = @()
+
+if ($pathChanged) {
+    $nextSteps += "Open a new terminal (or log out and back in) to activate PATH."
+}
 
 $soulPath = Join-Path $TargetDir "SOUL.md"
 if (-not (Test-Path $soulPath)) {
-    Write-Host ""
-    Write-Host "[mosaic-install] Set up your agent identity by running: mosaic init"
-    Write-Host "[mosaic-install] This generates SOUL.md - the universal behavioral contract for all agent sessions."
+    $nextSteps += "Run 'mosaic init' to set up your agent identity (SOUL.md)."
+}
+
+if ($nextSteps.Count -gt 0) {
+    Write-Host "  Next steps:" -ForegroundColor White
+    for ($i = 0; $i -lt $nextSteps.Count; $i++) {
+        Write-Host "  $($i + 1). " -NoNewline
+        Write-Host $nextSteps[$i] -ForegroundColor Cyan
+    }
+    Write-Host ""
 }
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index 3a236c4..b05f188 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -4,6 +4,21 @@ set -euo pipefail
 SOURCE_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
 TARGET_DIR="${MOSAIC_HOME:-$HOME/.config/mosaic}"
 
+# Colors (disabled if not a terminal)
+if [[ -t 1 ]]; then
+  GREEN='\033[0;32m' YELLOW='\033[0;33m' RED='\033[0;31m'
+  CYAN='\033[0;36m' BOLD='\033[1m' RESET='\033[0m'
+else
+  GREEN='' YELLOW='' RED='' CYAN='' BOLD='' RESET=''
+fi
+
+ok()   { echo -e "  ${GREEN}✓${RESET} $1"; }
+warn() { echo -e "  ${YELLOW}⚠${RESET} $1" >&2; }
+fail() { echo -e "  ${RED}✗${RESET} $1" >&2; }
+step() { echo -e "\n${BOLD}$1${RESET}"; }
+
+step "Installing Mosaic framework"
+
 mkdir -p "$TARGET_DIR"
 
 if command -v rsync >/dev/null 2>&1; then
@@ -16,33 +31,40 @@ fi
 chmod +x "$TARGET_DIR"/bin/*
 chmod +x "$TARGET_DIR"/install.sh
 
-echo "[mosaic-install] Installed framework to $TARGET_DIR"
+ok "Framework installed to $TARGET_DIR"
 
-echo "[mosaic-install] Linking runtime compatibility assets"
-if ! "$TARGET_DIR/bin/mosaic-link-runtime-assets"; then
-  echo "[mosaic-install] WARNING: runtime asset linking failed (framework install still complete)" >&2
+step "Post-install tasks"
+
+if "$TARGET_DIR/bin/mosaic-link-runtime-assets" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  ok "Runtime assets linked"
+else
+  warn "Runtime asset linking failed (non-fatal)"
 fi
 
-echo "[mosaic-install] Syncing universal skills"
 if [[ "${MOSAIC_SKIP_SKILLS_SYNC:-0}" == "1" ]]; then
-  echo "[mosaic-install] Skipping skills sync (MOSAIC_SKIP_SKILLS_SYNC=1)"
+  ok "Skills sync skipped (MOSAIC_SKIP_SKILLS_SYNC=1)"
 else
-  if ! "$TARGET_DIR/bin/mosaic-sync-skills"; then
-    echo "[mosaic-install] WARNING: skills sync failed (framework install still complete)" >&2
+  if "$TARGET_DIR/bin/mosaic-sync-skills" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    ok "Skills synced"
+  else
+    warn "Skills sync failed (non-fatal)"
   fi
 fi
 
-echo "[mosaic-install] Migrating runtime-local skills to Mosaic links"
-if ! "$TARGET_DIR/bin/mosaic-migrate-local-skills" --apply; then
-  echo "[mosaic-install] WARNING: local skill migration failed (framework install still complete)" >&2
+if "$TARGET_DIR/bin/mosaic-migrate-local-skills" --apply >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  ok "Local skills migrated"
+else
+  warn "Local skill migration failed (non-fatal)"
 fi
 
-echo "[mosaic-install] Running health audit"
-if ! "$TARGET_DIR/bin/mosaic-doctor"; then
-  echo "[mosaic-install] WARNING: doctor reported issues (run ~/.config/mosaic/bin/mosaic-doctor --fail-on-warn)" >&2
+if "$TARGET_DIR/bin/mosaic-doctor" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  ok "Health audit passed"
+else
+  warn "Health audit reported issues — run 'mosaic doctor' for details"
 fi
 
-# Ensure ~/.config/mosaic/bin is in PATH persistently
+step "PATH configuration"
+
 PATH_LINE="export PATH=\"$TARGET_DIR/bin:\$PATH\""
 
 # Find the right shell profile
@@ -56,20 +78,39 @@ else
   SHELL_PROFILE="$HOME/.profile"
 fi
 
+PATH_CHANGED=false
 if grep -qF "$TARGET_DIR/bin" "$SHELL_PROFILE" 2>/dev/null; then
-  echo "[mosaic-install] PATH: $TARGET_DIR/bin already in $SHELL_PROFILE ✓"
+  ok "Already in PATH via $SHELL_PROFILE"
 else
   {
     echo ""
     echo "# Mosaic agent framework"
     echo "$PATH_LINE"
   } >> "$SHELL_PROFILE"
-  echo "[mosaic-install] PATH: Added $TARGET_DIR/bin to $SHELL_PROFILE ✓"
-  echo "[mosaic-install] Run 'source $SHELL_PROFILE' or open a new terminal to activate."
+  ok "Added to PATH in $SHELL_PROFILE"
+  PATH_CHANGED=true
+fi
+
+# ── Summary ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+echo ""
+echo -e "${GREEN}${BOLD}  Mosaic installed successfully.${RESET}"
+echo ""
+
+# Collect next steps
+NEXT_STEPS=()
+
+if [[ "$PATH_CHANGED" == "true" ]]; then
+  NEXT_STEPS+=("Run ${CYAN}source $SHELL_PROFILE${RESET} or log out and back in to activate PATH.")
 fi
 
 if [[ ! -f "$TARGET_DIR/SOUL.md" ]]; then
-  echo ""
-  echo "[mosaic-install] Set up your agent identity by running: mosaic init"
-  echo "[mosaic-install] This generates SOUL.md — the universal behavioral contract for all agent sessions."
+  NEXT_STEPS+=("Run ${CYAN}mosaic init${RESET} to set up your agent identity (SOUL.md).")
+fi
+
+if [[ ${#NEXT_STEPS[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
+  echo -e "  ${BOLD}Next steps:${RESET}"
+  for i in "${!NEXT_STEPS[@]}"; do
+    echo -e "  $((i+1)). ${NEXT_STEPS[$i]}"
+  done
+  echo ""
 fi