diff --git a/PLAN_NEXT.md b/PLAN_NEXT.md
index 7261b30..5e85291 100644
--- a/PLAN_NEXT.md
+++ b/PLAN_NEXT.md
@@ -135,6 +135,22 @@ request); anything else → 403 and the frontend forwards to
 `/access?email=…` (prefilled). Rate-limited (5/hour), token by mail only,
 delivery failures never 500 (see §0.4 hardening).
 
+## 0.6 Polish round (bell-tower favicon, lfx-clean flows, HTML mail)
+
+* Favicon simplified to a stylized bell tower (spire + shaft + bell-arch
+  knockout); PNGs regenerated via `npm run icons`.
+* `lfx validate --level 4` now green for ALL canonical flows + regression
+  test (`test_lfx_validate.py`). Root cause: required form fields have no
+  edge (values arrive via the form_values envelope). Fix: generator writes
+  a single-space sentinel value for required template fields; the form
+  parser treats whitespace-only values as "no default". L3
+  Message-vs-str warnings are known lfx-validator noise (MessageTextInput
+  accepts Message at runtime).
+* New-input authoring docs: `backend/components/kirche/README.md`.
+* Magic-link + access-notification mails are branded multipart
+  (text + HTML): kirchenblau header, serif headline, real button link,
+  German copy, email-safe tables/inline styles, no external assets.
+
 ## 1. Locked decisions (do not re-ask)
 
 * Auth: SMTP magic-link, 15-min single-use tokens (`secrets.token_urlsafe`,
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7061d29..9a5ed29 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ needs judgment. Every step is documented and traceable.
   `LANGFLOW_COMPONENTS_PATH`). `GET /api/flows/{id}/input-schema` derives a
   JSON Schema + RJSF uiSchema from the deployed version; the webapp renders
   the matching form automatically. Flows without such a node fall back to a
-  single textarea.
+  single textarea. See
+  `backend/components/kirche/README.md` for authoring new form fields.
 - **Web UI** — landing page (*Start*), access request (*Zugang*), and the
   logged-in webapp: *Workflows* (choose + run with dynamic form),
   *Aufgaben* (approvals), *Verwaltung* (admin: access requests, import,
diff --git a/backend/app/auth/mail.py b/backend/app/auth/mail.py
index 0b59112..8764f18 100644
--- a/backend/app/auth/mail.py
+++ b/backend/app/auth/mail.py
@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
-"""Magic-link delivery. SMTP when configured, dev log fallback otherwise."""
+"""Magic-link delivery. SMTP when configured, dev log fallback otherwise.
+
+Mail design follows the web branding (see frontend/src/theme.ts):
+kirchenblau header, serif headline, white card on paper background.
+Email-safe by construction: table layout, inline styles only, system
+fonts, no external images (many clients block them / track opens).
+"""
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
@@ -10,11 +16,72 @@ from app.settings import settings
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+# Brand palette (mirrors frontend/src/theme.ts kirchenblau).
+BLUE = "#1d4a79"
+BLUE_LIGHT = "#eef4fb"
+INK = "#162f4c"
+MUTED = "#5b6b7c"
+
+BLUE = "#1d4a79"
+BLUE_LIGHT = "#eef4fb"
+INK = "#162f4c"
+MUTED = "#5b6b7c"
+
 
 def magic_link(token: str) -> str:
     return f"{settings.frontend_url.rstrip('/')}/login?token={token}"
 
 
+def _page(title: str, intro: str, button_label: str, button_url: str | None, note: str) -> str:
+    """Branded HTML mail body (table layout, inline styles, no images)."""
+    button = ""
+    if button_url:
+        button = (
+            '<table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" '
+            'style="margin:24px auto 8px auto;"><tr>'
+            f'<td bgcolor="{BLUE}" style="border-radius:8px;">'
+            f'<a href="{button_url}" '
+            'style="display:inline-block;padding:12px 28px;font-family:-apple-system,'
+            'Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:15px;'
+            'font-weight:600;color:#ffffff;text-decoration:none;'
+            f'border-radius:8px;">{button_label}</a></td></tr></table>'
+        )
+    return f"""<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html lang="de">
+<body style="margin:0;padding:0;background-color:{BLUE_LIGHT};">
+<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"
+       style="background-color:{BLUE_LIGHT};padding:24px 12px;">
+  <tr><td align="center">
+    <table role="presentation" width="520" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"
+           style="max-width:520px;width:100%;font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;
+                  border-radius:12px;overflow:hidden;border:1px solid #d9e6f5;">
+      <tr>
+        <td bgcolor="{BLUE}" style="padding:20px 28px;">
+          <span style="color:#ffffff;font-size:18px;font-weight:700;
+                       letter-spacing:0.02em;">Kirche Einfach</span>
+        </td>
+      </tr>
+      <tr>
+        <td bgcolor="#ffffff" style="padding:28px 28px 24px 28px;">
+          <h1 style="margin:0 0 12px 0;font-size:22px;line-height:1.3;
+                     color:{INK};">{title}</h1>
+          <p style="margin:0;font-family:-apple-system,Segoe UI,Roboto,
+                    Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:15px;line-height:1.6;
+                    color:{MUTED};">{intro}</p>
+          {button}
+        </td>
+      </tr>
+    </table>
+    <p style="font-family:-apple-system,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;
+              font-size:12px;color:{MUTED};margin:16px 0 0 0;max-width:520px;">
+      {note}
+    </p>
+  </td></tr>
+</table>
+</body>
+</html>"""
+
+
 def _send(message: EmailMessage) -> None:
     with smtplib.SMTP(settings.smtp_host, settings.smtp_port, timeout=10) as smtp:
         smtp.starttls()
@@ -23,6 +90,33 @@ def _send(message: EmailMessage) -> None:
         smtp.send_message(message)
 
 
+def _branded_mail(
+    subject: str,
+    to_email: str,
+    headline: str,
+    intro: str,
+    button_label: str,
+    button_url: str,
+    note: str,
+) -> EmailMessage:
+    """Text + branded HTML alternative; the link is a real button."""
+    message = EmailMessage()
+    message["Subject"] = subject
+    message["To"] = to_email
+    message["From"] = settings.mail_from or settings.contact_to or to_email
+    if settings.contact_to:
+        message["Reply-To"] = settings.contact_to
+    message.set_content(
+        f"{headline}\n\n{intro}\n\n{button_label}:\n{button_url}\n\n{note}\n"
+    )
+    # Email-safe HTML: tables + inline CSS; some clients strip <style>, so
+    # the palette is inlined via the f-string constants above.
+    message.add_alternative(
+        _page(headline, intro, button_label, button_url, note), subtype="html"
+    )
+    return message
+
+
 def send_magic_link(to_email: str, link: str) -> bool:
     """Mail the login link. Returns False (logs instead) when SMTP is unset.
 
@@ -36,14 +130,22 @@ def send_magic_link(to_email: str, link: str) -> bool:
     if not settings.smtp_host:
         logger.info("SMTP not configured; magic link for %s: %s", to_email, link)
         return False
-    message = EmailMessage()
-    message["Subject"] = "Your kirche-einfach login link"
-    message["To"] = to_email
-    message["From"] = settings.mail_from or settings.contact_to or to_email
-    if settings.contact_to:
-        message["Reply-To"] = settings.contact_to
-    message.set_content(
-        f"Hello,\n\nUse this link to log in (valid 15 minutes, single use):\n{link}\n"
+    message = _branded_mail(
+        subject="Dein Login-Link für Kirche Einfach",
+        to_email=to_email,
+        headline="Anmeldung bei Kirche Einfach",
+        intro=(
+            "Klicke auf den Button, um dich anzumelden. Der Link ist "
+            "15 Minuten gültig und funktioniert nur einmal."
+        ),
+        button_label="Jetzt anmelden",
+        button_url=link,
+        note=(
+            "Falls du den Button nicht nutzen kannst, kopiere den Link "
+            "aus der Textversion dieser E-Mail in deinen Browser. "
+            "Diese E-Mail wurde angefordert — wenn du das warst, ist "
+            "alles gut; sonst kannst du sie ignorieren."
+        ),
     )
     try:
         _send(message)
@@ -59,12 +161,17 @@ def send_access_notification(request_id: str, name: str, email: str) -> bool:
     if not settings.smtp_host or not settings.contact_to:
         logger.info("new access request %s from %s <%s>", request_id, name, email)
         return False
-    message = EmailMessage()
-    message["Subject"] = f"New access request: {name}"
-    message["To"] = settings.contact_to
-    message["From"] = settings.mail_from or settings.contact_to
-    message.set_content(
-        f"Name: {name}\nEmail: {email}\nRequest: {request_id}\n"
+    message = _branded_mail(
+        subject=f"Neue Zugangsanfrage: {name}",
+        to_email=settings.contact_to,
+        headline="Neue Zugangsanfrage",
+        intro=(
+            f"{name} ({email}) hat Zugang angefordert und wartet auf "
+            "Freigabe in der Verwaltung."
+        ),
+        button_label="In der Verwaltung prüfen",
+        button_url=f"{settings.frontend_url.rstrip('/')}/app/admin",
+        note="Diese Benachrichtigung geht an das Kontakt-Postfach.",
     )
     try:
         _send(message)
diff --git a/backend/app/flows/input_schema.py b/backend/app/flows/input_schema.py
index 863c102..b453cb4 100644
--- a/backend/app/flows/input_schema.py
+++ b/backend/app/flows/input_schema.py
@@ -96,6 +96,11 @@ def _field_schema(name: str, field: dict) -> tuple[dict, dict]:
 
     value = field.get("value")
     if value is not None:
+        # Whitespace-only string values are the flow generator's sentinel
+        # for "required, filled at runtime" (see make_flow_fixtures.py) —
+        # not a real default for the web form.
+        if isinstance(value, str) and not value.strip():
+            return prop, ui
         # A default outside its enum would fail validation on touch.
         enum = prop.get("enum")
         if not (enum is not None and value not in enum):
diff --git a/backend/components/kirche/README.md b/backend/components/kirche/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fcd44fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/components/kirche/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+# Authoring web forms (CustomInputForm)
+
+Flows that should render a web form start with a `CustomInputForm` node
+(this package — the `kirche` category in the Langflow palette). The API
+derives a JSON Schema + uiSchema from the node's template
+(`app/flows/input_schema.py`) and the webapp renders it with RJSF.
+
+## Adding a new form field
+
+1. Open the Langflow authoring UI (http://localhost:7860) and load the
+   flow from `LANGFLOW_LOAD_FLOWS_PATH` (canonical files are preloaded).
+2. Edit the `CustomInputForm` node: every entry in its `inputs` list is
+   one web-form field. Add an `lfx.io` input, e.g.
+   ```python
+   from lfx.io import DropdownInput
+
+   DropdownInput(
+       name="room",                 # JSON-Schema property key
+       display_name="Room",         # form label (title)
+       info="Where should it take place",  # help text (description)
+       options=["Chapel", "Hall"],  # dropdown choices (enum)
+       value="Chapel",              # prefill (default)
+       required=True,               # marks the field required
+   )
+   ```
+   Supported input types → widgets: `StrInput`/`MessageTextInput` → text,
+   `MultilineInput` → textarea, `SecretStrInput` → password,
+   `IntInput` → integer, `FloatInput` → number, `BoolInput` → checkbox,
+   `DropdownInput` → select, `MultiselectInput` → multi-select,
+   `SliderInput` → slider (needs `range_spec`), `FileInput` → text stub
+   (real upload later).
+3. Add the new field to `collect()` so it reaches the JSON output.
+4. **Wire the envelope**: keep the `ChatInput → form_values` edge (hidden
+   input, `show=False`). Submitted web-form values arrive there as
+   `{"payload": {...}}` and are merged over the defaults. Never make form
+   fields required *with* an incoming edge — that's the envelope's job.
+5. Export the flow (JSON) into `backend/flows/<name>.json` and commit.
+   The API watcher syncs + deploys it automatically; the form schema is
+   regenerated per version.
+
+## Conventions the pipeline relies on
+
+- `required=True` on a template field: `lfx validate --level 4` demands a
+  value or an edge, so the canonical-flow generator
+  (`backend/scripts/make_flow_fixtures.py`) writes a single-space
+  sentinel value for such fields. The form parser treats whitespace-only
+  values as "no default" — don't ship real whitespace defaults.
+- Field key = `name` (stable); label = `display_name`; help = `info`.
+- Unknown future input types degrade to a plain text field in the web
+  form (parser fallback), so adding exotic lfx inputs never breaks runs.
+
+## Regenerating the bundled fixtures
+
+After editing the component source (`form_inputs.py`), refresh the
+canonical + test-fixture exports:
+
+    docker compose exec api /opt/venv/bin/python scripts/make_flow_fixtures.py
+    docker compose exec -T api uv run pytest tests/test_lfx_validate.py
diff --git a/backend/flows/intake_form.json b/backend/flows/intake_form.json
index 0de6f33..efae03f 100644
--- a/backend/flows/intake_form.json
+++ b/backend/flows/intake_form.json
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@
                 "placeholder": "",
                 "show": true,
                 "name": "full_name",
-                "value": "",
+                "value": " ",
                 "display_name": "Full name",
                 "advanced": false,
                 "api_editable": false,
diff --git a/backend/scripts/make_flow_fixtures.py b/backend/scripts/make_flow_fixtures.py
index b4b7b81..93f5205 100644
--- a/backend/scripts/make_flow_fixtures.py
+++ b/backend/scripts/make_flow_fixtures.py
@@ -143,6 +143,19 @@ def kirche_node(
     node_dict = _normalize(node_dict, node_id, comp_name, *position)
     for field, value in (values or {}).items():
         node_dict["data"]["node"]["template"][field]["value"] = value
+    # lfx validate --level 4 errors on required inputs with no value and no
+    # incoming edge. Our form fields are filled at runtime via the
+    # form_values envelope (collect() merges), never via edges — so required
+    # template fields carry a single-space sentinel value. The form parser
+    # (app/flows/input_schema.py) treats whitespace-only values as "no
+    # default", keeping the web form clean.
+    for field_def in node_dict["data"]["node"]["template"].values():
+        if (
+            isinstance(field_def, dict)
+            and field_def.get("required")
+            and field_def.get("value") in (None, "", [], {})
+        ):
+            field_def["value"] = " "
     return node_dict
 
 
diff --git a/backend/tests/fixtures/flows/intake_form.json b/backend/tests/fixtures/flows/intake_form.json
index 0de6f33..efae03f 100644
--- a/backend/tests/fixtures/flows/intake_form.json
+++ b/backend/tests/fixtures/flows/intake_form.json
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@
                 "placeholder": "",
                 "show": true,
                 "name": "full_name",
-                "value": "",
+                "value": " ",
                 "display_name": "Full name",
                 "advanced": false,
                 "api_editable": false,
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_auth.py b/backend/tests/test_auth.py
index 02bde95..5b4ef59 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_auth.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_auth.py
@@ -316,3 +316,34 @@ async def test_magic_request_rate_limit(client, session):
         "/api/auth/magic/request", json={"email": MEMBER}
     )
     assert limited.status_code == 429
+
+
+def test_magic_link_mail_has_clickable_branded_html(monkeypatch):
+    from app.auth import mail
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(settings, "smtp_host", "dummy")
+    message = mail._branded_mail(
+        subject="Dein Login-Link",
+        to_email="a@example.com",
+        headline="Anmeldung bei Kirche Einfach",
+        intro="Klicke auf den Button.",
+        button_label="Jetzt anmelden",
+        button_url="http://localhost:3000/login?token=GEHEIM",
+        note="Gültig 15 Minuten.",
+    )
+    html_part = next(
+        p for p in message.walk() if p.get_content_type() == "text/html"
+    )
+    html = html_part.get_content()
+    # Button = anchor with href around the label; token never in text-only form.
+    assert '<a href="http://localhost:3000/login?token=GEHEIM"' in html
+    assert ">Jetzt anmelden</a>" in html
+    assert mail.BLUE in html  # kirchenblau brand bar
+    assert 'lang="de"' in html
+    # Multipart: plain-text fallback keeps the raw link.
+    parts = [p.get_content_type() for p in message.walk()]
+    assert "text/plain" in parts and "text/html" in parts
+    plain = next(
+        p.get_content() for p in message.walk() if p.get_content_type() == "text/plain"
+    )
+    assert "http://localhost:3000/login?token=GEHEIM" in plain
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_lfx_validate.py b/backend/tests/test_lfx_validate.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1a125a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/test_lfx_validate.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+"""Canonical flows must pass lfx's strict validator (level 4).
+
+Guards the source-of-truth directory against authoring mistakes: the
+input_schema parser and the LFX runtime both assume well-formed exports.
+Runs `lfx validate --level 4` (the dev dep, same minor as Langflow).
+"""
+
+import subprocess
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+FLOW_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "flows"
+
+
+def test_canonical_flows_pass_lfx_validate():
+    files = sorted(FLOW_DIR.glob("*.json"))
+    assert files, "no canonical flows found"
+    process = subprocess.run(
+        [
+            sys.executable,
+            "-m",
+            "lfx",
+            "validate",
+            "--level",
+            "4",
+            *[str(f) for f in files],
+        ],
+        capture_output=True,
+        text=True,
+        timeout=300,
+    )
+    assert process.returncode == 0, (
+        f"lfx validate failed:\n{process.stdout}\n{process.stderr}"
+    )
diff --git a/frontend/public/apple-touch-icon.png b/frontend/public/apple-touch-icon.png
index c3969b9..6e12596 100644
Binary files a/frontend/public/apple-touch-icon.png and b/frontend/public/apple-touch-icon.png differ
diff --git a/frontend/public/favicon-32x32.png b/frontend/public/favicon-32x32.png
index 2a8f550..d94c671 100644
Binary files a/frontend/public/favicon-32x32.png and b/frontend/public/favicon-32x32.png differ
diff --git a/frontend/public/favicon.svg b/frontend/public/favicon.svg
index ac95567..1532068 100644
--- a/frontend/public/favicon.svg
+++ b/frontend/public/favicon.svg
@@ -7,16 +7,9 @@
     }
   </style>
   <rect class="bg" x="4" y="4" width="56" height="56" rx="14"/>
-  <!-- tower -->
-  <rect class="fg" x="26" y="22" width="12" height="28"/>
-  <!-- spire -->
-  <path class="fg" d="M32 8 L40 22 H24 Z"/>
-  <!-- cross -->
-  <rect class="fg" x="31.2" y="2.5" width="1.6" height="6"/>
-  <rect class="fg" x="29.4" y="4" width="5.2" height="1.6"/>
-  <!-- nave -->
-  <rect class="fg" x="14" y="36" width="12" height="14"/>
-  <path class="fg" d="M12 36 L20 28 L28 36 Z"/>
-  <!-- door knockout -->
-  <path class="bg" d="M29 50 v-5 a3 3 0 0 1 6 0 v5 Z"/>
+  <!-- stylized bell tower: spire + shaft + bell arch -->
+  <path class="fg" d="M32 9 L41 25 H23 Z"/>
+  <rect class="fg" x="25" y="25" width="14" height="27"/>
+  <!-- bell arch knockout -->
+  <path class="bg" d="M28.5 40 v-4 a3.5 3.5 0 0 1 7 0 v4 Z"/>
 </svg>
diff --git a/frontend/public/icon-192.png b/frontend/public/icon-192.png
index 8eb9c15..188f78b 100644
Binary files a/frontend/public/icon-192.png and b/frontend/public/icon-192.png differ
diff --git a/frontend/public/icon-512.png b/frontend/public/icon-512.png
index 02d8724..1a68be3 100644
Binary files a/frontend/public/icon-512.png and b/frontend/public/icon-512.png differ