diff --git a/BuildController.gd b/BuildController.gd
index 605994a..b98c40d 100644
--- a/BuildController.gd
+++ b/BuildController.gd
@@ -865,7 +865,7 @@ func _refresh_lab() -> void:
 		var level_note: String = "" if bool(option.unlock) else "  %d/%d" % [
 			GameState.upgrade_level(option.id), int(GameState.upgrade_def(option.id).max_level)]
 		lab_upgrade_labels[i].text = "%s%s\n%s" % [option.name, level_note, price_text]
-		lab_upgrade_buttons[i].icon = IconButton.Icon.SHIP_LAB
+		lab_upgrade_buttons[i].icon = _upgrade_icon(option)
 		lab_upgrade_buttons[i].glow_color = Color(1.0, 0.85, 0.4) if i == lab_choice else _vessel_colour(lab_vessel)
 		lab_upgrade_buttons[i].enabled = true
 		lab_upgrade_buttons[i].queue_redraw()
@@ -885,6 +885,21 @@ func _refresh_lab() -> void:
 	lab_buy_button.queue_redraw()
 
 
+func _upgrade_icon(option: Dictionary) -> IconButton.Icon:
+	if bool(option.unlock):
+		return IconButton.Icon.UPGRADE_UNLOCK_SHIELD
+	match String(option.id):
+		"int_damage": return IconButton.Icon.UPGRADE_DAMAGE
+		"int_rate": return IconButton.Icon.UPGRADE_RATE
+		"int_range": return IconButton.Icon.UPGRADE_RANGE
+		"int_speed", "shd_speed": return IconButton.Icon.UPGRADE_THRUSTERS
+		"shd_hits": return IconButton.Icon.UPGRADE_SHIELD_HITS
+		"shd_recharge": return IconButton.Icon.UPGRADE_SHIELD_RECHARGE
+		"trn_capacity": return IconButton.Icon.UPGRADE_CARGO
+		"trn_speed": return IconButton.Icon.UPGRADE_ENGINES
+		_: return IconButton.Icon.SHIP_LAB
+
+
 func _on_craft_shield() -> void:
 	if craft_building_id == 0:
 		_say("No crafter selected - reopen this panel from the building")
diff --git a/IconButton.gd b/IconButton.gd
index efaa1ed..e2f09fc 100644
--- a/IconButton.gd
+++ b/IconButton.gd
@@ -20,6 +20,11 @@ enum Icon {
 	# each other: the single up/down arrows already mean "load" and "store"
 	# one way each, and this button is the place where both live.
 	TRANSFER,
+	# Ship-lab upgrade glyphs. These deliberately describe the effect rather
+	# than the building hosting it, so cards remain scannable at a glance.
+	UPGRADE_DAMAGE, UPGRADE_RATE, UPGRADE_RANGE, UPGRADE_THRUSTERS,
+	UPGRADE_SHIELD_HITS, UPGRADE_SHIELD_RECHARGE, UPGRADE_CARGO,
+	UPGRADE_ENGINES, UPGRADE_UNLOCK_SHIELD,
 }
 
 # Size the glyphs were originally drawn against. Every glyph dimension is
@@ -153,6 +158,24 @@ func _draw() -> void:
 			_draw_ship_lab_icon(center, pulse, s)
 		Icon.TRANSFER:
 			_draw_transfer_icon(center, pulse, s)
+		Icon.UPGRADE_DAMAGE:
+			_draw_upgrade_damage(center, pulse, s)
+		Icon.UPGRADE_RATE:
+			_draw_upgrade_rate(center, pulse, s)
+		Icon.UPGRADE_RANGE:
+			_draw_upgrade_range(center, pulse, s)
+		Icon.UPGRADE_THRUSTERS:
+			_draw_upgrade_thrusters(center, pulse, s)
+		Icon.UPGRADE_SHIELD_HITS:
+			_draw_upgrade_shield_hits(center, pulse, s)
+		Icon.UPGRADE_SHIELD_RECHARGE:
+			_draw_upgrade_shield_recharge(center, pulse, s)
+		Icon.UPGRADE_CARGO:
+			_draw_upgrade_cargo(center, pulse, s)
+		Icon.UPGRADE_ENGINES:
+			_draw_upgrade_engines(center, pulse, s)
+		Icon.UPGRADE_UNLOCK_SHIELD:
+			_draw_upgrade_unlock_shield(center, pulse, s)
 
 
 func _draw_close(center: Vector2, pulse: float, s: float) -> void:
@@ -199,6 +222,84 @@ func _draw_transfer_icon(center: Vector2, pulse: float, s: float) -> void:
 			_active_color(), pulse, 0.42 * s, core_color)
 
 
+# --- ship-lab upgrade glyphs ---------------------------------------------
+
+func _draw_upgrade_damage(center: Vector2, pulse: float, s: float) -> void:
+	# A heavy projectile striking a target.
+	NeonDraw.draw_glowing_line(self, center + Vector2(-13, 0) * s, center + Vector2(5, 0) * s, _active_color(), pulse, 0.7 * s, core_color)
+	for a in [0.0, PI * 0.5, PI, PI * 1.5]:
+		var dir := Vector2(cos(a), sin(a))
+		NeonDraw.draw_glowing_line(self, center + Vector2(8, 0) * s, center + Vector2(8, 0) * s + dir * 7.0 * s, _active_color(), pulse, 0.4 * s, core_color)
+
+
+func _draw_upgrade_rate(center: Vector2, pulse: float, s: float) -> void:
+	# Three successive shots: more fire per second.
+	for x in [-9.0, 0.0, 9.0]:
+		NeonDraw.draw_glowing_line(self, center + Vector2(x - 3, 7) * s, center + Vector2(x + 3, -7) * s, _active_color(), pulse, 0.55 * s, core_color)
+
+
+func _draw_upgrade_range(center: Vector2, pulse: float, s: float) -> void:
+	# Reticle with a long sight line.
+	var r := 10.0 * s
+	for i in range(12):
+		var a := TAU * float(i) / 12.0
+		var b := TAU * float(i + 1) / 12.0
+		NeonDraw.draw_glowing_line(self, center + Vector2(cos(a), sin(a)) * r, center + Vector2(cos(b), sin(b)) * r, _active_color(), pulse, 0.32 * s, core_color)
+	NeonDraw.draw_glowing_line(self, center + Vector2(-15, 0) * s, center + Vector2(15, 0) * s, _active_color(), pulse, 0.38 * s, core_color)
+	NeonDraw.draw_glowing_line(self, center + Vector2(0, -15) * s, center + Vector2(0, 15) * s, _active_color(), pulse, 0.38 * s, core_color)
+
+
+func _draw_upgrade_thrusters(center: Vector2, pulse: float, s: float) -> void:
+	# Ship nozzle with two exhaust flames.
+	NeonDraw.draw_glowing_polygon(self, PackedVector2Array([center + Vector2(-10, -7) * s, center + Vector2(5, -7) * s, center + Vector2(11, 0) * s, center + Vector2(5, 7) * s, center + Vector2(-10, 7) * s]), _active_color(), pulse, core_color)
+	for y in [-4.0, 4.0]:
+		NeonDraw.draw_glowing_line(self, center + Vector2(-10, y) * s, center + Vector2(-17, y * 1.5) * s, _active_color(), pulse, 0.45 * s, core_color)
+
+
+func _draw_upgrade_shield_hits(center: Vector2, pulse: float, s: float) -> void:
+	# Layered hexagonal shield walls.
+	for r in [8.0, 13.0]:
+		var hex := PackedVector2Array()
+		for i in range(6):
+			var a := TAU * float(i) / 6.0 + PI / 6.0
+			hex.append(center + Vector2(cos(a), sin(a)) * r * s)
+		NeonDraw.draw_glowing_polygon(self, hex, _active_color(), pulse, core_color)
+
+
+func _draw_upgrade_shield_recharge(center: Vector2, pulse: float, s: float) -> void:
+	# A shield with a circular recovery arrow.
+	var arc := PackedVector2Array()
+	for i in range(10):
+		var a := lerpf(-PI * 0.2, PI * 1.35, float(i) / 9.0)
+		arc.append(center + Vector2(cos(a), sin(a)) * 11.0 * s)
+	NeonDraw.draw_glowing_path(self, arc, _active_color(), pulse, 0.45 * s, core_color)
+	var tip: Vector2 = arc[arc.size() - 1]
+	NeonDraw.draw_glowing_line(self, tip, tip + Vector2(6, -1) * s, _active_color(), pulse, 0.45 * s, core_color)
+	NeonDraw.draw_glowing_line(self, tip, tip + Vector2(1, 6) * s, _active_color(), pulse, 0.45 * s, core_color)
+
+
+func _draw_upgrade_cargo(center: Vector2, pulse: float, s: float) -> void:
+	# Freight crate, with outward arrows suggesting expanded volume.
+	var box := 8.0 * s
+	NeonDraw.draw_glowing_polygon(self, PackedVector2Array([center + Vector2(-box, -box) , center + Vector2(box, -box), center + Vector2(box, box), center + Vector2(-box, box)]), _active_color(), pulse, core_color)
+	for side in [-1.0, 1.0]:
+		NeonDraw.draw_glowing_line(self, center + Vector2(side * 10, 0) * s, center + Vector2(side * 16, 0) * s, _active_color(), pulse, 0.38 * s, core_color)
+
+
+func _draw_upgrade_engines(center: Vector2, pulse: float, s: float) -> void:
+	# Engine core with speed streaks.
+	NeonDraw.draw_glowing_polygon(self, PackedVector2Array([center + Vector2(-4, -8) * s, center + Vector2(7, -5) * s, center + Vector2(10, 0) * s, center + Vector2(7, 5) * s, center + Vector2(-4, 8) * s, center + Vector2(-8, 0) * s]), _active_color(), pulse, core_color)
+	for y in [-7.0, 0.0, 7.0]:
+		NeonDraw.draw_glowing_line(self, center + Vector2(-18, y) * s, center + Vector2(-9, y) * s, _active_color(), pulse, 0.4 * s, core_color)
+
+
+func _draw_upgrade_unlock_shield(center: Vector2, pulse: float, s: float) -> void:
+	# A shield silhouette with a plus: unlock the whole vessel, not a stat.
+	NeonDraw.draw_glowing_polygon(self, PackedVector2Array([center + Vector2(0, -13) * s, center + Vector2(11, -7) * s, center + Vector2(8, 7) * s, center + Vector2(0, 13) * s, center + Vector2(-8, 7) * s, center + Vector2(-11, -7) * s]), _active_color(), pulse, core_color)
+	NeonDraw.draw_glowing_line(self, center + Vector2(-4, 0) * s, center + Vector2(4, 0) * s, _active_color(), pulse, 0.45 * s, core_color)
+	NeonDraw.draw_glowing_line(self, center + Vector2(0, -4) * s, center + Vector2(0, 4) * s, _active_color(), pulse, 0.45 * s, core_color)
+
+
 func _draw_build(center: Vector2, pulse: float, s: float) -> void:
 	# A plus inside a frame - "add a structure".
 	var r: float = 11.0 * s
diff --git a/Main.tscn b/Main.tscn
index 154467e..450d77f 100644
--- a/Main.tscn
+++ b/Main.tscn
@@ -1000,6 +1000,15 @@ theme_override_font_sizes/font_size = 22
 horizontal_alignment = 1
 text = "Transporter"
 
+[node name="VesselUpgradeSeparator" type="ColorRect" parent="UI/LabMenu"]
+mouse_filter = 2
+anchor_right = 1.0
+offset_left = 48
+offset_top = 462
+offset_right = -48
+offset_bottom = 466
+color = Color(0.25, 0.85, 1, 0.6)
+
 [node name="UpgradeList" type="Label" parent="UI/LabMenu"]
 visible = false
 mouse_filter = 2