diff --git a/src/components/AccessibleVideo.vue b/src/components/AccessibleVideo.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0806560
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/AccessibleVideo.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+<script setup lang="ts">
+import { computed, nextTick, onUnmounted, ref, shallowRef, watch } from 'vue';
+import { useLazyMedia } from '@/composables/useLazyMedia';
+
+export interface AccessibleVideoSource {
+  src: string;
+  type: 'video/mp4' | 'video/webm';
+}
+
+const props = withDefaults(defineProps<{
+  sources: readonly AccessibleVideoSource[];
+  poster: string;
+  width: number;
+  height: number;
+  accessibleLabel?: string;
+  caption: string;
+  description: string;
+  allowAutomatic: boolean;
+}>(), { accessibleLabel: 'Project video' });
+
+const figure = ref<HTMLElement | null>(null);
+const video = ref<HTMLVideoElement | null>(null);
+const playing = shallowRef(false);
+const unavailable = shallowRef(false);
+const status = shallowRef('Video ready to play.');
+const savedTime = shallowRef(0);
+const automatic = computed(() => props.allowAutomatic && !unavailable.value);
+const lazy = useLazyMedia(figure, automatic);
+let failureTimer: number | undefined;
+
+const clearFailureTimer = (): void => {
+  if (failureTimer !== undefined) window.clearTimeout(failureTimer);
+  failureTimer = undefined;
+};
+
+const detach = async (): Promise<void> => {
+  const element = video.value;
+  if (element !== null) {
+    savedTime.value = Number.isFinite(element.currentTime) ? element.currentTime : savedTime.value;
+    element.pause();
+    playing.value = false;
+    status.value = unavailable.value ? status.value : 'Video paused while offscreen.';
+  }
+  await nextTick();
+  video.value?.load();
+};
+
+watch(() => lazy.shouldAttach.value, (attached, previous) => {
+  if (!attached && previous) void detach();
+  if (attached) void nextTick(() => video.value?.load());
+}, { flush: 'post' });
+
+watch(() => props.allowAutomatic, (allowed) => {
+  if (!allowed && !lazy.explicitRequested.value) void detach();
+});
+
+const markUnavailable = (): void => {
+  clearFailureTimer();
+  unavailable.value = true;
+  playing.value = false;
+  lazy.clearExplicit();
+  status.value = 'This video could not be played. The poster and description remain available.';
+};
+
+const play = async (): Promise<void> => {
+  if (unavailable.value) return;
+  lazy.requestExplicit();
+  status.value = 'Loading video.';
+  await nextTick();
+  const element = video.value;
+  if (element === null) return markUnavailable();
+  element.load();
+  clearFailureTimer();
+  failureTimer = window.setTimeout(markUnavailable, 3_000);
+  try {
+    await element.play();
+    clearFailureTimer();
+    playing.value = true;
+    status.value = 'Video playing.';
+  } catch {
+    markUnavailable();
+  }
+};
+
+const pause = (): void => {
+  video.value?.pause();
+  playing.value = false;
+  status.value = 'Video paused.';
+  lazy.clearExplicit();
+};
+
+const togglePlayback = (): void => {
+  if (playing.value) pause();
+  else void play();
+};
+
+const restoreTime = (): void => {
+  const element = video.value;
+  if (element !== null && Number.isFinite(savedTime.value) && savedTime.value > 0) {
+    element.currentTime = Math.min(savedTime.value, Number.isFinite(element.duration) ? element.duration : savedTime.value);
+  }
+};
+
+onUnmounted(() => {
+  clearFailureTimer();
+  video.value?.pause();
+});
+</script>
+
+<template>
+  <figure ref="figure" class="project-media project-media--video" data-project-media>
+    <video
+      ref="video"
+      :poster="poster"
+      :width="width"
+      :height="height"
+      :aria-label="accessibleLabel"
+      preload="none"
+      playsinline
+      @loadedmetadata="restoreTime"
+      @error="markUnavailable"
+      @ended="playing = false; status = 'Video ended.'"
+    >
+      <source
+        v-for="source in lazy.shouldAttach.value ? sources : []"
+        :key="source.src"
+        :src="source.src"
+        :type="source.type"
+      />
+    </video>
+    <figcaption>{{ caption }}</figcaption>
+    <p class="media-description">{{ description }}</p>
+    <div class="video-controls">
+      <button type="button" :disabled="unavailable" @click="togglePlayback">
+        {{ unavailable ? 'Video unavailable' : playing ? 'Pause video' : 'Play video' }}
+      </button>
+      <p data-testid="video-status">{{ status }}</p>
+    </div>
+  </figure>
+</template>
diff --git a/src/components/AppShell.vue b/src/components/AppShell.vue
index 487e4b0..dbdc21e 100644
--- a/src/components/AppShell.vue
+++ b/src/components/AppShell.vue
@@ -169,11 +169,21 @@ onUnmounted(() => removePageListeners());
     </PortfolioSection>
 
     <PortfolioSection id="selected-builds" :index="5" :eyebrow="sectionLabel('selected-builds').toUpperCase()" :heading="sectionLabel('selected-builds').toUpperCase()">
-      <ProjectCaseStudy v-for="project in content.projects.selected" :key="project.id" :project="project" />
+      <ProjectCaseStudy
+        v-for="project in content.projects.selected"
+        :key="project.id"
+        :project="project"
+        :allow-automatic-video="motion.policy.value.allowAutomaticVideo"
+      />
     </PortfolioSection>
 
     <PortfolioSection id="additional-work" :index="6" :eyebrow="sectionLabel('additional-work').toUpperCase()" :heading="sectionLabel('additional-work').toUpperCase()">
-      <ProjectCard v-for="project in content.projects.additional" :key="project.id" :project="project" />
+      <ProjectCard
+        v-for="project in content.projects.additional"
+        :key="project.id"
+        :project="project"
+        :allow-automatic-video="motion.policy.value.allowAutomaticVideo"
+      />
     </PortfolioSection>
 
     <PortfolioSection id="toolkit" :index="7" :eyebrow="sectionLabel('toolkit').toUpperCase()" :heading="sectionLabel('toolkit').toUpperCase()">
diff --git a/src/components/ChartFigure.vue b/src/components/ChartFigure.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8aef8e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/ChartFigure.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+<script setup lang="ts">
+import type { ChartMediaPresentation } from '@/content/types';
+
+defineProps<{
+  presentation: Readonly<ChartMediaPresentation>;
+  src: string;
+  width: number;
+  height: number;
+}>();
+</script>
+
+<template>
+  <figure class="project-media project-media--chart" data-project-media>
+    <img
+      :src="src"
+      :alt="presentation.alt"
+      :width="width"
+      :height="height"
+      loading="lazy"
+      decoding="async"
+    />
+    <figcaption>{{ presentation.caption }}</figcaption>
+    <dl class="chart-description">
+      <dt>Variables</dt>
+      <dd data-testid="chart-variables">{{ presentation.chart.variables }}</dd>
+      <dt>Trend</dt>
+      <dd data-testid="chart-trend">{{ presentation.chart.trend }}</dd>
+      <dt>Conclusion</dt>
+      <dd data-testid="chart-conclusion">{{ presentation.chart.conclusion }}</dd>
+    </dl>
+    <table v-if="presentation.chart.table" class="chart-values">
+      <caption>{{ presentation.chart.table.caption }}</caption>
+      <thead>
+        <tr>
+          <th v-for="column in presentation.chart.table.columns" :key="column" scope="col">{{ column }}</th>
+        </tr>
+      </thead>
+      <tbody>
+        <tr v-for="(row, rowIndex) in presentation.chart.table.rows" :key="rowIndex">
+          <th scope="row">{{ row[0] }}</th>
+          <td v-for="(value, cellIndex) in row.slice(1)" :key="cellIndex">{{ value }}</td>
+        </tr>
+      </tbody>
+    </table>
+  </figure>
+</template>
diff --git a/src/components/ProjectCard.vue b/src/components/ProjectCard.vue
index 6ee3901..9fbf15f 100644
--- a/src/components/ProjectCard.vue
+++ b/src/components/ProjectCard.vue
@@ -1,13 +1,22 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import type { PublicProject } from '@/content/types';
+import ProjectMedia from './ProjectMedia.vue';
 
-defineProps<{ project: Readonly<PublicProject> }>();
+withDefaults(defineProps<{ project: Readonly<PublicProject>; allowAutomaticVideo?: boolean }>(), {
+  allowAutomaticVideo: false,
+});
 </script>
 
 <template>
   <article>
     <h3>{{ project.title }}</h3>
     <p>{{ project.summary }}</p>
+    <ProjectMedia
+      v-for="media in project.media ?? []"
+      :key="`${media.kind}-${media.assetId}`"
+      :presentation="media"
+      :allow-automatic-video="allowAutomaticVideo"
+    />
     <p>{{ project.contribution }}</p>
     <p>{{ project.outcome }}</p>
     <a v-if="project.visibility === 'public' && project.url" class="project-link" :href="project.url" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">{{ project.title }}</a>
diff --git a/src/components/ProjectCaseStudy.vue b/src/components/ProjectCaseStudy.vue
index 7130b8d..7bc7caa 100644
--- a/src/components/ProjectCaseStudy.vue
+++ b/src/components/ProjectCaseStudy.vue
@@ -1,13 +1,22 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import type { PublicProject } from '@/content/types';
+import ProjectMedia from './ProjectMedia.vue';
 
-defineProps<{ project: Readonly<PublicProject> }>();
+withDefaults(defineProps<{ project: Readonly<PublicProject>; allowAutomaticVideo?: boolean }>(), {
+  allowAutomaticVideo: false,
+});
 </script>
 
 <template>
   <article>
     <h3>{{ project.title }}</h3>
     <p>{{ project.summary }}</p>
+    <ProjectMedia
+      v-for="media in project.media ?? []"
+      :key="`${media.kind}-${media.assetId}`"
+      :presentation="media"
+      :allow-automatic-video="allowAutomaticVideo"
+    />
     <dl>
       <dt>Problem</dt>
       <dd>{{ project.problem }}</dd>
diff --git a/src/components/ProjectMedia.vue b/src/components/ProjectMedia.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a7f7f3b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/ProjectMedia.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+<script setup lang="ts">
+import { computed, inject } from 'vue';
+import AccessibleVideo, { type AccessibleVideoSource } from './AccessibleVideo.vue';
+import ChartFigure from './ChartFigure.vue';
+import { productionInputsKey } from '@/app';
+import { assetUrl } from '@/content/asset-url';
+import type { MediaPresentation, PublicAsset, PublicAssetManifest } from '@/content/types';
+
+const props = withDefaults(defineProps<{
+  presentation: Readonly<MediaPresentation>;
+  allowAutomaticVideo?: boolean;
+  manifest?: Readonly<PublicAssetManifest>;
+}>(), { allowAutomaticVideo: false });
+
+const inputs = inject(productionInputsKey, undefined);
+const resolvedManifest = computed(() => props.manifest ?? inputs?.manifest);
+
+const resolveAsset = (assetId: string): PublicAsset => {
+  const manifest = resolvedManifest.value;
+  if (manifest === undefined) throw new Error('Project media requires the public asset manifest.');
+  const asset = manifest.assets.find((candidate) => candidate.id === assetId);
+  if (asset === undefined) throw new Error(`Unknown asset ID: ${assetId}`);
+  return asset;
+};
+
+const primaryAsset = computed(() => resolveAsset(props.presentation.assetId));
+const primaryUrl = computed(() => assetUrl(resolvedManifest.value!, props.presentation.assetId));
+const assertImage = (asset: PublicAsset): PublicAsset => {
+  if (!asset.mediaType.startsWith('image/') || asset.width === null || asset.height === null) {
+    throw new Error(`Project media asset is not an intrinsic-size image: ${asset.id}`);
+  }
+  return asset;
+};
+const imageAsset = computed(() => assertImage(primaryAsset.value));
+const videoSources = computed<readonly AccessibleVideoSource[]>(() => {
+  if (props.presentation.kind !== 'video') return [];
+  const ids = [props.presentation.assetId, props.presentation.fallbackAssetId].filter((id): id is string => id !== undefined);
+  return ids.map((id) => {
+    const asset = resolveAsset(id);
+    if (asset.mediaType !== 'video/webm' && asset.mediaType !== 'video/mp4') {
+      throw new Error(`Project video source has an invalid media type: ${id}`);
+    }
+    return { src: assetUrl(resolvedManifest.value!, id), type: asset.mediaType };
+  });
+});
+const videoAsset = computed(() => {
+  const asset = primaryAsset.value;
+  if ((asset.mediaType !== 'video/webm' && asset.mediaType !== 'video/mp4') || asset.width === null || asset.height === null) {
+    throw new Error(`Project media asset is not an intrinsic-size video: ${asset.id}`);
+  }
+  return asset;
+});
+const posterUrl = computed(() => {
+  if (props.presentation.kind !== 'video') return '';
+  assertImage(resolveAsset(props.presentation.posterAssetId));
+  return assetUrl(resolvedManifest.value!, props.presentation.posterAssetId);
+});
+</script>
+
+<template>
+  <ChartFigure
+    v-if="presentation.kind === 'chart'"
+    :presentation="presentation"
+    :src="primaryUrl"
+    :width="imageAsset.width!"
+    :height="imageAsset.height!"
+  />
+  <AccessibleVideo
+    v-else-if="presentation.kind === 'video'"
+    :sources="videoSources"
+    :poster="posterUrl"
+    :width="videoAsset.width!"
+    :height="videoAsset.height!"
+    :accessible-label="presentation.alt"
+    :caption="presentation.caption"
+    :description="presentation.longDescription"
+    :allow-automatic="allowAutomaticVideo"
+  />
+  <figure v-else class="project-media project-media--image" data-project-media>
+    <img
+      :src="primaryUrl"
+      :alt="presentation.alt"
+      :width="imageAsset.width!"
+      :height="imageAsset.height!"
+      loading="lazy"
+      decoding="async"
+    />
+    <figcaption v-if="presentation.caption">{{ presentation.caption }}</figcaption>
+    <p v-if="presentation.longDescription" class="media-description" data-testid="media-long-description">
+      {{ presentation.longDescription }}
+    </p>
+  </figure>
+</template>
diff --git a/src/composables/useLazyMedia.ts b/src/composables/useLazyMedia.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c8018a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/composables/useLazyMedia.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import { computed, onMounted, onUnmounted, readonly, shallowRef, unref, type MaybeRef, type Ref } from 'vue';
+
+export interface LazyMediaState {
+  nearby: Readonly<Ref<boolean>>;
+  shouldAttach: Readonly<Ref<boolean>>;
+  explicitRequested: Readonly<Ref<boolean>>;
+  requestExplicit(): void;
+  clearExplicit(): void;
+}
+
+export const MEDIA_ACTIVATION_MARGIN = '300px 0px 300px 0px';
+
+export function useLazyMedia(
+  target: Readonly<Ref<Element | null>>,
+  allowAutomatic: MaybeRef<boolean>,
+): LazyMediaState {
+  const nearby = shallowRef(false);
+  const explicitRequested = shallowRef(false);
+  const shouldAttach = computed(() => explicitRequested.value || (nearby.value && unref(allowAutomatic)));
+  let observer: IntersectionObserver | undefined;
+
+  const requestExplicit = (): void => {
+    explicitRequested.value = true;
+  };
+  const clearExplicit = (): void => {
+    explicitRequested.value = false;
+  };
+
+  onMounted(() => {
+    if (typeof IntersectionObserver !== 'function' || target.value === null) return;
+    observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries) => {
+      const inActivationRange = entries.some((entry) => entry.isIntersecting);
+      nearby.value = inActivationRange;
+      if (!inActivationRange) clearExplicit();
+    }, { rootMargin: MEDIA_ACTIVATION_MARGIN, threshold: 0 });
+    observer.observe(target.value);
+  });
+
+  onUnmounted(() => observer?.disconnect());
+
+  return {
+    nearby: readonly(nearby),
+    shouldAttach: readonly(shouldAttach),
+    explicitRequested: readonly(explicitRequested),
+    requestExplicit,
+    clearExplicit,
+  };
+}
diff --git a/src/content/schemas.ts b/src/content/schemas.ts
index d35975d..b7ee2ae 100644
--- a/src/content/schemas.ts
+++ b/src/content/schemas.ts
@@ -58,6 +58,46 @@ const navigationItemSchema = z.object({
   id: z.enum(canonicalNavigationIds),
   label: visibleString,
 }).strict();
+
+const mediaPresentationBase = {
+  assetId: opaqueId,
+  alt: visibleString,
+  caption: visibleString.optional(),
+  longDescription: visibleString.optional(),
+};
+const mediaTableSchema = z.object({
+  caption: visibleString,
+  columns: z.array(visibleString).min(2),
+  rows: z.array(z.array(visibleString).min(2)).min(1),
+}).strict().superRefine((table, context) => {
+  for (const [index, row] of table.rows.entries()) {
+    if (row.length !== table.columns.length) {
+      context.addIssue({ code: 'custom', message: 'Every chart table row must match the column count.', path: ['rows', index] });
+    }
+  }
+});
+const mediaPresentationSchema = z.discriminatedUnion('kind', [
+  z.object({ kind: z.literal('image'), ...mediaPresentationBase }).strict(),
+  z.object({
+    kind: z.literal('video'),
+    ...mediaPresentationBase,
+    fallbackAssetId: opaqueId.optional(),
+    posterAssetId: opaqueId,
+    caption: visibleString,
+    longDescription: visibleString,
+  }).strict(),
+  z.object({
+    kind: z.literal('chart'),
+    ...mediaPresentationBase,
+    caption: visibleString,
+    chart: z.object({
+      variables: visibleString,
+      trend: visibleString,
+      conclusion: visibleString,
+      table: mediaTableSchema.optional(),
+    }).strict(),
+  }).strict(),
+]);
 const projectSchema = z.object({
   id: opaqueId,
   title: visibleString,
@@ -70,6 +110,7 @@ const projectSchema = z.object({
   outcome: visibleString,
   url: httpUrl.optional(),
   assetIds: z.array(opaqueId),
+  media: z.array(mediaPresentationSchema).optional(),
 }).strict().superRefine((project, context) => {
   if (project.visibility === 'private' && project.url !== undefined) {
     context.addIssue({ code: 'custom', message: 'A private project may not include a url.', path: ['url'] });
@@ -77,6 +118,21 @@ const projectSchema = z.object({
   if (project.visibility === 'private' && !approvedPrivateProjectTitles.includes(project.title as (typeof approvedPrivateProjectTitles)[number])) {
     context.addIssue({ code: 'custom', message: 'Private project title must use an approved generic title.', path: ['title'] });
   }
+  if (project.media !== undefined) {
+    const mediaAssetIds = project.media.flatMap((media) => media.kind === 'video'
+      ? [media.assetId, ...(media.fallbackAssetId === undefined ? [] : [media.fallbackAssetId]), media.posterAssetId]
+      : [media.assetId]);
+    const declared = [...project.assetIds].sort();
+    const presented = [...mediaAssetIds].sort();
+    if (new Set(declared).size !== declared.length || new Set(presented).size !== presented.length ||
+      JSON.stringify(declared) !== JSON.stringify(presented)) {
+      context.addIssue({
+        code: 'custom',
+        message: 'Project media must have an exact, duplicate-free asset closure.',
+        path: ['assetIds'],
+      });
+    }
+  }
 });
 
 const portfolioContentSchema = z.object({
diff --git a/src/content/types.ts b/src/content/types.ts
index 788cfbd..40b5e85 100644
--- a/src/content/types.ts
+++ b/src/content/types.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,47 @@ export type SectionId =
 export type ProjectVisibility = 'public' | 'private';
 export type ProjectMaturity = 'learning' | 'experimental' | 'prototype' | 'work-in-progress' | 'active';
 
+export interface MediaPresentationBase {
+  assetId: string;
+  alt: string;
+  caption?: string;
+  longDescription?: string;
+}
+
+export interface ImageMediaPresentation extends MediaPresentationBase {
+  kind: 'image';
+}
+
+export interface VideoMediaPresentation extends MediaPresentationBase {
+  kind: 'video';
+  fallbackAssetId?: string;
+  posterAssetId: string;
+  caption: string;
+  longDescription: string;
+}
+
+export interface ChartValueTable {
+  caption: string;
+  columns: readonly string[];
+  rows: ReadonlyArray<readonly string[]>;
+}
+
+export interface ChartMediaPresentation extends MediaPresentationBase {
+  kind: 'chart';
+  caption: string;
+  chart: {
+    variables: string;
+    trend: string;
+    conclusion: string;
+    table?: ChartValueTable;
+  };
+}
+
+export type MediaPresentation =
+  | ImageMediaPresentation
+  | VideoMediaPresentation
+  | ChartMediaPresentation;
+
 export interface ExperienceRecord {
   id: string;
   role: string;
@@ -52,6 +93,7 @@ export interface PublicProject {
   outcome: string;
   url?: string;
   assetIds: readonly string[];
+  media?: readonly MediaPresentation[];
 }
 
 export interface ToolkitTechnology {
diff --git a/src/styles/components.css b/src/styles/components.css
index 43b9c06..490767a 100644
--- a/src/styles/components.css
+++ b/src/styles/components.css
@@ -74,6 +74,79 @@
   font-size: var(--step--1);
 }
 
+.project-media {
+  overflow: hidden;
+}
+
+.project-media img,
+.project-media video {
+  inline-size: 100%;
+  block-size: auto;
+  border: 1px solid var(--line);
+  background: var(--canvas);
+}
+
+.media-description,
+.chart-description,
+.video-controls,
+.chart-values {
+  margin-block-start: var(--space-2);
+}
+
+.chart-description {
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-columns: minmax(6rem, auto) minmax(0, 1fr);
+}
+
+.chart-values {
+  inline-size: 100%;
+  border-collapse: collapse;
+  font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
+}
+
+.chart-values caption {
+  padding-block-end: var(--space-1);
+  color: var(--text);
+  font-weight: 650;
+  text-align: start;
+}
+
+.chart-values th,
+.chart-values td {
+  padding: 0.45rem;
+  border: 1px solid var(--line);
+  text-align: start;
+}
+
+.video-controls {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+  gap: var(--space-2);
+  align-items: center;
+}
+
+.video-controls button {
+  min-inline-size: 8rem;
+  min-block-size: 44px;
+  padding-inline: var(--space-2);
+  border: 1px solid var(--cyan);
+  background: var(--cyan-deep);
+  color: var(--text);
+  font-family: var(--mono);
+  font-weight: 650;
+}
+
+.video-controls button:disabled {
+  border-color: var(--line);
+  color: var(--text-muted);
+}
+
+@media (max-width: 420px) {
+  .chart-description {
+    grid-template-columns: 1fr;
+  }
+}
+
 .portfolio-section svg {
   inline-size: 100%;
   block-size: auto;
diff --git a/tests/browser/media-policy.spec.ts b/tests/browser/media-policy.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cc96ba7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/browser/media-policy.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+import { expect, test } from '../helpers/serve-dist';
+
+test('pending approval renders a complete text-first portfolio without media requests or broken placeholders', async ({ page, distUrl }) => {
+  const mediaRequests: string[] = [];
+  page.on('request', (request) => {
+    if (/\.(?:avif|jpe?g|png|webp|mp4|webm)(?:$|\?)/iu.test(request.url())) mediaRequests.push(request.url());
+  });
+  await page.goto(distUrl, { waitUntil: 'networkidle' });
+
+  await expect(page.locator('main > section')).toHaveCount(8);
+  await expect(page.locator('#selected-builds article')).toHaveCount(3);
+  await expect(page.locator('#additional-work article')).toHaveCount(4);
+  await expect(page.locator('[data-project-media]')).toHaveCount(0);
+  await expect(page.locator('.journey-poster')).not.toHaveAttribute('src', /.+/u);
+  expect(mediaRequests).toEqual([]);
+});
+
+test('reduced motion does not introduce automatic project media payloads', async ({ page, distUrl }) => {
+  const videoRequests: string[] = [];
+  page.on('request', (request) => {
+    if (/\.(?:mp4|webm)(?:$|\?)/iu.test(request.url())) videoRequests.push(request.url());
+  });
+  await page.emulateMedia({ reducedMotion: 'reduce' });
+  await page.goto(distUrl, { waitUntil: 'networkidle' });
+
+  await expect(page.locator('video[src], video source[src]')).toHaveCount(0);
+  expect(videoRequests).toEqual([]);
+});
diff --git a/tests/unit/ProjectMedia.test.ts b/tests/unit/ProjectMedia.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f0e5109
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/ProjectMedia.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,274 @@
+import { mount } from '@vue/test-utils';
+import { nextTick, ref } from 'vue';
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+import { productionInputsKey } from '@/app';
+import AccessibleVideo from '@/components/AccessibleVideo.vue';
+import ProjectMedia from '@/components/ProjectMedia.vue';
+import { useLazyMedia } from '@/composables/useLazyMedia';
+import { parsePortfolioContent, parsePublicAssetManifest } from '@/content/schemas';
+import type { MediaPresentation, ProductionInputs, PublicAssetManifest } from '@/content/types';
+
+const sha = 'a'.repeat(64);
+const manifest: PublicAssetManifest = {
+  assets: [
+    {
+      id: 'project-image', fileName: 'project-image.webp', sha256: sha, mediaType: 'image/webp',
+      width: 1200, height: 800, durationMs: null, rightsHolder: 'Luca Pîslaru',
+      license: 'All rights reserved', attribution: 'Luca Pîslaru',
+    },
+    {
+      id: 'project-chart', fileName: 'project-chart.webp', sha256: sha, mediaType: 'image/webp',
+      width: 1000, height: 700, durationMs: null, rightsHolder: 'Luca Pîslaru',
+      license: 'All rights reserved', attribution: 'Luca Pîslaru',
+    },
+    {
+      id: 'project-loop', fileName: 'project-loop.webm', sha256: sha, mediaType: 'video/webm',
+      width: 1280, height: 720, durationMs: 5_000, rightsHolder: 'Luca Pîslaru',
+      license: 'All rights reserved', attribution: 'Luca Pîslaru',
+    },
+    {
+      id: 'project-loop-mp4', fileName: 'project-loop.mp4', sha256: sha, mediaType: 'video/mp4',
+      width: 1280, height: 720, durationMs: 5_000, rightsHolder: 'Luca Pîslaru',
+      license: 'All rights reserved', attribution: 'Luca Pîslaru',
+    },
+    {
+      id: 'project-loop-poster', fileName: 'project-loop-poster.webp', sha256: sha, mediaType: 'image/webp',
+      width: 1280, height: 720, durationMs: null, rightsHolder: 'Luca Pîslaru',
+      license: 'All rights reserved', attribution: 'Luca Pîslaru',
+    },
+  ],
+};
+
+const injectedInputs = {
+  manifest,
+  content: {},
+  site: {},
+} as unknown as ProductionInputs;
+
+class IntersectionObserverFake {
+  static instances: IntersectionObserverFake[] = [];
+  readonly observe = vi.fn();
+  readonly disconnect = vi.fn();
+  constructor(
+    readonly callback: IntersectionObserverCallback,
+    readonly options?: IntersectionObserverInit,
+  ) {
+    IntersectionObserverFake.instances.push(this);
+  }
+  unobserve(): void {}
+  takeRecords(): IntersectionObserverEntry[] { return []; }
+  readonly root = null;
+  readonly rootMargin = '300px 0px 300px 0px';
+  readonly thresholds = [0];
+  emit(isIntersecting: boolean): void {
+    this.callback([{ isIntersecting } as IntersectionObserverEntry], this as unknown as IntersectionObserver);
+  }
+}
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  IntersectionObserverFake.instances = [];
+  vi.stubGlobal('IntersectionObserver', IntersectionObserverFake);
+  vi.spyOn(HTMLMediaElement.prototype, 'load').mockImplementation(() => undefined);
+  vi.spyOn(HTMLMediaElement.prototype, 'play').mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+  vi.spyOn(HTMLMediaElement.prototype, 'pause').mockImplementation(() => undefined);
+});
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  vi.unstubAllGlobals();
+  vi.restoreAllMocks();
+});
+
+const mountMedia = (presentation: MediaPresentation, allowAutomaticVideo = false) => mount(ProjectMedia, {
+  props: { presentation, allowAutomaticVideo },
+  global: { provide: { [productionInputsKey as symbol]: injectedInputs } },
+});
+
+describe('ProjectMedia', () => {
+  it('resolves only manifest assets and keeps contextual wording in content', () => {
+    const wrapper = mountMedia({
+      kind: 'image',
+      assetId: 'project-image',
+      alt: 'A fictional application schedule on a phone.',
+      caption: 'A sanitized mobile workflow.',
+      longDescription: 'The interface groups the daily schedule and stock status.',
+    });
+
+    const image = wrapper.get('img');
+    expect(image.attributes()).toMatchObject({
+      src: '/assets/project-image.webp',
+      alt: 'A fictional application schedule on a phone.',
+      width: '1200',
+      height: '800',
+      loading: 'lazy',
+    });
+    expect(wrapper.get('figcaption').text()).toBe('A sanitized mobile workflow.');
+    expect(wrapper.get('[data-testid="media-long-description"]').text()).toContain('daily schedule');
+
+    expect(() => mountMedia({ kind: 'image', assetId: 'not-in-manifest', alt: 'Unknown asset.' }))
+      .toThrow(/unknown asset id/i);
+  });
+
+  it('renders chart variables, trend, conclusion, and exact-value table as visible text', () => {
+    const wrapper = mountMedia({
+      kind: 'chart',
+      assetId: 'project-chart',
+      alt: 'A line chart of polarization over simulation steps.',
+      caption: 'Polarization rises during this modeled run.',
+      chart: {
+        variables: 'Horizontal: simulation step. Vertical: polarization index.',
+        trend: 'The index rises sharply, then increases gradually.',
+        conclusion: 'This run ends more polarized than it began.',
+        table: {
+          caption: 'Selected modeled values',
+          columns: ['Step', 'Polarization index'],
+          rows: [['0', '0.765'], ['14', '0.932']],
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    expect(wrapper.get('figcaption').text()).toContain('Polarization rises');
+    expect(wrapper.get('[data-testid="chart-variables"]').text()).toContain('simulation step');
+    expect(wrapper.get('[data-testid="chart-trend"]').text()).toContain('rises sharply');
+    expect(wrapper.get('[data-testid="chart-conclusion"]').text()).toContain('more polarized');
+    expect(wrapper.get('table caption').text()).toBe('Selected modeled values');
+    expect(wrapper.findAll('tbody tr')).toHaveLength(2);
+  });
+
+  it('keeps video sources detached until explicit Play when automatic media is blocked', async () => {
+    const wrapper = mountMedia({
+      kind: 'video',
+      assetId: 'project-loop',
+      fallbackAssetId: 'project-loop-mp4',
+      posterAssetId: 'project-loop-poster',
+      alt: 'Gameplay from a private prototype.',
+      caption: 'A short gameplay-only excerpt.',
+      longDescription: 'The player navigates a compact prototype environment.',
+    });
+
+    const video = wrapper.get('video');
+    expect(video.attributes('preload')).toBe('none');
+    expect(video.attributes()).not.toHaveProperty('controls');
+    expect(video.findAll('source')).toHaveLength(0);
+    expect(wrapper.get('button').text()).toBe('Play video');
+
+    IntersectionObserverFake.instances[0]!.emit(true);
+    await nextTick();
+    expect(video.findAll('source')).toHaveLength(0);
+
+    await wrapper.get('button').trigger('click');
+    await nextTick();
+    expect(video.findAll('source').map((source) => source.attributes('src'))).toEqual([
+      '/assets/project-loop.webm',
+      '/assets/project-loop.mp4',
+    ]);
+    expect(HTMLMediaElement.prototype.play).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+  });
+
+  it('attaches inside 300 CSS pixels when automatic media is allowed and detaches offscreen', async () => {
+    const wrapper = mountMedia({
+      kind: 'video', assetId: 'project-loop', posterAssetId: 'project-loop-poster',
+      alt: 'Gameplay excerpt.', caption: 'Gameplay.', longDescription: 'A gameplay loop.',
+    }, true);
+    const observer = IntersectionObserverFake.instances[0]!;
+    expect(observer.options?.rootMargin).toBe('300px 0px 300px 0px');
+
+    observer.emit(true);
+    await nextTick();
+    expect(wrapper.findAll('video source')).toHaveLength(1);
+
+    const video = wrapper.get('video').element as HTMLVideoElement;
+    video.currentTime = 2.25;
+
+    observer.emit(false);
+    await nextTick();
+    expect(wrapper.findAll('video source')).toHaveLength(0);
+    expect(HTMLMediaElement.prototype.pause).toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    video.currentTime = 0;
+    observer.emit(true);
+    await nextTick();
+    await wrapper.get('video').trigger('loadedmetadata');
+    expect(video.currentTime).toBe(2.25);
+  });
+
+  it('reports playback failure without exposing native controls', async () => {
+    vi.mocked(HTMLMediaElement.prototype.play).mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('blocked'));
+    const wrapper = mount(AccessibleVideo, {
+      props: {
+        sources: [{ src: '/assets/project-loop.webm', type: 'video/webm' }],
+        poster: '/assets/project-loop-poster.webp',
+        width: 1280,
+        height: 720,
+        caption: 'Gameplay.',
+        description: 'A gameplay loop.',
+        allowAutomatic: false,
+      },
+    });
+    IntersectionObserverFake.instances[0]!.emit(true);
+    await wrapper.get('button').trigger('click');
+    await nextTick();
+
+    expect(wrapper.get('button').text()).toBe('Video unavailable');
+    expect(wrapper.get('[data-testid="video-status"]').text()).toContain('could not be played');
+    expect(wrapper.get('video').attributes()).not.toHaveProperty('controls');
+  });
+});
+
+describe('useLazyMedia', () => {
+  it('fails closed without an observer and supports an explicit request', async () => {
+    vi.stubGlobal('IntersectionObserver', undefined);
+    const target = ref<Element | null>(document.createElement('div'));
+    const wrapper = mount({
+      setup() {
+        return useLazyMedia(target, ref(true));
+      },
+      template: '<div />',
+    });
+    expect((wrapper.vm as unknown as { shouldAttach: boolean }).shouldAttach).toBe(false);
+    (wrapper.vm as unknown as { requestExplicit: () => void }).requestExplicit();
+    await nextTick();
+    expect((wrapper.vm as unknown as { shouldAttach: boolean }).shouldAttach).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('media content schema', () => {
+  it('requires content-owned descriptions and exact project asset closure', () => {
+    const raw = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify({
+      identity: { name: 'Luca Pîslaru', role: 'System Administrator & Full-Stack Developer', valueProposition: 'Value.' },
+      navigation: ['start', 'profile', 'experience', 'infrastructure', 'selected-builds', 'additional-work', 'toolkit', 'contact']
+        .map((id) => ({ id, label: id })),
+      profile: { introduction: 'Profile.', screeningFacts: [] },
+      experience: [{ id: 'role', role: 'Role', organization: 'Org', dates: 'Jan 2024 – Present', highlights: ['One.', 'Two.'] }],
+      systemsOperations: { id: 'systems', title: 'Professional systems operations', summary: 'Summary.', evidence: ['Evidence.'] },
+      infrastructure: {
+        id: 'infra', title: 'Secure self-hosted platform and lifecycle', summary: 'Summary.',
+        bands: ['one', 'two', 'three', 'four'].map((id) => ({ id, title: id, summary: 'Summary.' })),
+      },
+      projects: {
+        selected: [
+          { id: 'private', title: 'Private self-hosted medication tracker', visibility: 'private', maturity: 'active', summary: 'S.', problem: 'P.', contribution: 'C.', technicalDecisions: ['D.'], outcome: 'O.', assetIds: ['project-image'], media: [{ kind: 'image', assetId: 'project-image', alt: 'Contextual alternative.' }] },
+          { id: 'footy', title: 'Footy Tracker', visibility: 'public', maturity: 'work-in-progress', summary: 'S.', problem: 'P.', contribution: 'C.', technicalDecisions: ['D.'], outcome: 'O.', assetIds: [], media: [] },
+          { id: 'research', title: 'Opinion Dynamics Simulation', visibility: 'public', maturity: 'experimental', summary: 'S.', problem: 'P.', contribution: 'C.', technicalDecisions: ['D.'], outcome: 'O.', assetIds: [], media: [] },
+        ],
+        additional: [{ id: 'extra', title: 'Extra', visibility: 'public', maturity: 'learning', summary: 'S.', problem: 'P.', contribution: 'C.', technicalDecisions: ['D.'], outcome: 'O.', assetIds: [], media: [] }],
+      },
+      toolkit: [{ title: 'Tools', technologies: [{ name: 'Linux' }] }],
+      contact: { email: 'hello@example.test', social: [], cvMessage: 'Contact directly.' },
+      metadata: { title: 'Title.', description: 'Description.' },
+      sceneDescription: 'Scene.',
+    }));
+
+    expect(parsePortfolioContent(raw).projects.selected[0]!.media?.[0]!.alt).toBe('Contextual alternative.');
+    raw.projects.selected[0].media[0].manifestCaption = 'Forbidden authority.';
+    expect(() => parsePortfolioContent(raw)).toThrow(/unrecognized/i);
+    delete raw.projects.selected[0].media[0].manifestCaption;
+    raw.projects.selected[0].assetIds = [];
+    expect(() => parsePortfolioContent(raw)).toThrow(/asset closure/i);
+  });
+
+  it('rejects contextual copy on manifest records', () => {
+    const raw = structuredClone(manifest) as unknown as { assets: Array<Record<string, unknown>> };
+    raw.assets[0]!.alt = 'Forbidden manifest alternative.';
+    expect(() => parsePublicAssetManifest(raw)).toThrow(/unrecognized/i);
+  });
+});