diff --git a/ui-v2/app/components/tab-nav/index.hbs b/ui-v2/app/components/tab-nav/index.hbs
index f50e91f459..62a978ecb4 100644
--- a/ui-v2/app/components/tab-nav/index.hbs
+++ b/ui-v2/app/components/tab-nav/index.hbs
@@ -1,17 +1,21 @@
-<nav role="tablist" class="tab-nav">
+<nav
+  style={{if selectedWidth (concat '--selected-width:' selectedWidth ';--selected-left:' selectedLeft ';--selected-height:' selectedHeight ';--selected-top:' selectedTop) undefined}}
+  role="tablist"
+  class={{concat 'tab-nav' (if isAnimatable ' animatable' '')}}
+  id={{guid}}>
   <ul>
 {{#each items as |item|}}
 <li
   data-test-tab={{concat name '_' (if item.label (slugify item.label) (slugify item))}}
   class={{if (or item.selected (eq selected (if item.label (slugify item.label) (slugify item)))) 'selected'}}
   >
-      <label role="tab" onkeydown={{action 'keydown'}} tabindex="0" aria-controls="radiogroup_{{name}}_{{if item.label (slugify item.label) (slugify item)}}_panel" for="radiogroup_{{name}}_{{if item.label (slugify item.label) (slugify item)}}" data-test-radiobutton="{{name}}_{{if item.label (slugify item.label) (slugify item)}}">
 {{#if item.href }}
         <a href={{item.href}}>{{item.label}}</a>
 {{else}}
-        <a>{{ item }}</a>
-{{/if}}
+      <label role="tab" onkeydown={{action 'keydown'}} tabindex="0" aria-controls="radiogroup_{{name}}_{{if item.label (slugify item.label) (slugify item)}}_panel" for="radiogroup_{{name}}_{{if item.label (slugify item.label) (slugify item)}}" data-test-radiobutton="{{name}}_{{if item.label (slugify item.label) (slugify item)}}">
+        <a>{{item}}</a>
       </label>
+{{/if}}
     </li>
 {{/each}}
   </ul>
diff --git a/ui-v2/app/components/tab-nav/index.js b/ui-v2/app/components/tab-nav/index.js
index ca4e1616b5..97a7218667 100644
--- a/ui-v2/app/components/tab-nav/index.js
+++ b/ui-v2/app/components/tab-nav/index.js
@@ -1,9 +1,39 @@
 import Component from '@ember/component';
+import { setProperties, set } from '@ember/object';
+import { inject as service } from '@ember/service';
+import { schedule } from '@ember/runloop';
 
 const ENTER = 13;
+const SELECTED = 'li.selected';
 export default Component.extend({
   name: 'tab',
   tagName: '',
+  dom: service('dom'),
+  isAnimatable: false,
+  init: function() {
+    this._super(...arguments);
+    this.guid = this.dom.guid(this);
+  },
+  didInsertElement: function() {
+    this._super(...arguments);
+    this.$nav = this.dom.element(`#${this.guid}`);
+    this.select(this.dom.element(SELECTED, this.$nav));
+    set(this, 'isAnimatable', true);
+  },
+  didUpdateAttrs: function() {
+    schedule('afterRender', () => this.select(this.dom.element(SELECTED, this.$nav)));
+  },
+  select: function($el) {
+    if (!$el) {
+      return;
+    }
+    setProperties(this, {
+      selectedWidth: $el.offsetWidth,
+      selectedLeft: $el.offsetLeft,
+      selectedHeight: $el.offsetHeight,
+      selectedTop: $el.offsetTop,
+    });
+  },
   actions: {
     keydown: function(e) {
       if (e.keyCode === ENTER) {
diff --git a/ui-v2/app/styles/base/animation/index.scss b/ui-v2/app/styles/base/animation/index.scss
index 61fd122b2a..1d6b6c31a5 100644
--- a/ui-v2/app/styles/base/animation/index.scss
+++ b/ui-v2/app/styles/base/animation/index.scss
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+%with-transition-500 {
+  transition-duration: 0.15s;
+  transition-timing-function: ease-out;
+}
 %blink-in-fade-out {
   transition-property: opacity;
   transition-duration: 0.1s;
diff --git a/ui-v2/app/styles/base/color/frame-placeholders.scss b/ui-v2/app/styles/base/color/frame-placeholders.scss
index d31afd33bc..b7454e0b20 100644
--- a/ui-v2/app/styles/base/color/frame-placeholders.scss
+++ b/ui-v2/app/styles/base/color/frame-placeholders.scss
@@ -6,6 +6,12 @@
   /* same as decor-border-000 - but need to think about being able to import color on its own*/
   border-style: solid;
 }
+%frame-brand-300 {
+  @extend %frame-border-000;
+  background-color: $transparent;
+  border-color: var(--decor-brand-600, inherit);
+  color: var(--typo-brand-600, inherit);
+}
 
 /* possibly filter bar */
 /* modal close button */
diff --git a/ui-v2/app/styles/base/components/form-elements/skin.scss b/ui-v2/app/styles/base/components/form-elements/skin.scss
index c65a20963a..ada9552333 100644
--- a/ui-v2/app/styles/base/components/form-elements/skin.scss
+++ b/ui-v2/app/styles/base/components/form-elements/skin.scss
@@ -40,6 +40,5 @@
 }
 %form-element-note > code {
   background-color: $gray-200;
-  /* consul color but its a code looking style?*/
-  color: $magenta-600;
+  color: var(--typo-brand-600, inherit);
 }
diff --git a/ui-v2/app/styles/base/components/menu-panel/skin.scss b/ui-v2/app/styles/base/components/menu-panel/skin.scss
index df6b0cbf02..49483fee19 100644
--- a/ui-v2/app/styles/base/components/menu-panel/skin.scss
+++ b/ui-v2/app/styles/base/components/menu-panel/skin.scss
@@ -31,5 +31,5 @@
 }
 %menu-panel .is-active > *::after {
   @extend %with-check-plain-mask, %as-pseudo;
-  background-color: $magenta-600;
+  background-color: var(--swatch-brand-600, $black);
 }
diff --git a/ui-v2/app/styles/base/components/tabs/index.scss b/ui-v2/app/styles/base/components/tabs/index.scss
index cfb5d586ca..72aad691df 100644
--- a/ui-v2/app/styles/base/components/tabs/index.scss
+++ b/ui-v2/app/styles/base/components/tabs/index.scss
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 @import './skin';
 @import './layout';
+%with-animated-tab-selection ul::after,
+%tab-button-selected {
+  @extend %frame-brand-300;
+}
 %tab-nav li a {
   @extend %tab-button;
 }
diff --git a/ui-v2/app/styles/base/components/tabs/layout.scss b/ui-v2/app/styles/base/components/tabs/layout.scss
index ea6bf3180c..42862f9cab 100644
--- a/ui-v2/app/styles/base/components/tabs/layout.scss
+++ b/ui-v2/app/styles/base/components/tabs/layout.scss
@@ -2,19 +2,25 @@
   clear: both;
 }
 %tab-nav ul {
-  padding: 0;
-  margin: 0;
   display: inline-flex;
   align-items: center;
+  position: relative;
+  padding: 0;
+  margin: 0;
 }
-%tab-button {
-  padding-left: 16px;
-  padding-right: 16px;
+%with-animated-tab-selection ul::after {
+  @extend %as-pseudo, %with-transition-500;
+  position: absolute;
+  bottom: 0;
+  height: 0;
+  border-top: 0;
+  width: calc(var(--selected-width, 0) * 1px);
+  transform: translate(calc(var(--selected-left, 0) * 1px), 0);
+  transition-property: transform, width;
 }
 %tab-button {
   display: inline-block;
-  padding-top: 13px;
-  padding-bottom: 13px;
+  padding: 16px 13px;
 }
 %tab-section section h3 {
   margin: 24px 0;
diff --git a/ui-v2/app/styles/base/components/tabs/skin.scss b/ui-v2/app/styles/base/components/tabs/skin.scss
index 4bbe754daf..7ad0caf074 100644
--- a/ui-v2/app/styles/base/components/tabs/skin.scss
+++ b/ui-v2/app/styles/base/components/tabs/skin.scss
@@ -1,13 +1,3 @@
-%tab-nav {
-  /* %frame-gray-something */
-  border-bottom: $decor-border-100;
-  /* TODO: structure tabs don't actually have a top border */
-  border-top: $decor-border-200;
-}
-%tab-nav {
-  /* %frame-gray-something */
-  border-color: $gray-200;
-}
 %tab-nav ul {
   list-style-type: none;
 }
@@ -18,16 +8,29 @@
   white-space: nowrap;
   text-decoration: none;
 }
+%tab-nav {
+  /* %frame-transparent-something */
+  border-bottom: $decor-border-100;
+}
+%tab-nav {
+  /* %frame-transparent-something */
+  border-color: $gray-200;
+}
+%with-animated-tab-selection ul::after,
 %tab-button {
   border-bottom: $decor-border-300;
 }
 %tab-button {
-  border-color: $color-transparent;
+  @extend %with-transition-500;
+  transition-property: background-color;
+  border-color: $transparent;
   color: $gray-500;
 }
 %tab-button-intent,
 %tab-button-active {
   /* %frame-gray-something */
-  border-color: $color-transparent;
   background-color: $gray-100;
 }
+%tab-nav.animatable .selected a {
+  border-color: $transparent !important;
+}
diff --git a/ui-v2/app/styles/components/main-header-horizontal.scss b/ui-v2/app/styles/components/main-header-horizontal.scss
index 6c35cc0a69..4516eb731f 100644
--- a/ui-v2/app/styles/components/main-header-horizontal.scss
+++ b/ui-v2/app/styles/components/main-header-horizontal.scss
@@ -12,19 +12,19 @@
   @extend %with-logo-github-monochrome-icon, %as-pseudo;
 }
 %main-header-horizontal::before {
-  background-color: $magenta-600;
+  background-color: var(--swatch-brand-600, $black);
 }
 %main-nav-horizontal-action,
 %main-nav-horizontal-toggle-button {
-  color: $magenta-050;
+  color: var(--typo-brand-050, $black);
 }
 @media #{$--lt-horizontal-nav} {
   %main-nav-horizontal-panel {
-    background-color: $magenta-600;
+    background-color: var(---swatch-brand-600, $black);
   }
 }
 @media #{$--horizontal-nav} {
   %main-nav-horizontal-action-active {
-    background-color: $magenta-800;
+    background-color: var(--swatch-brand-800, $black);
   }
 }
diff --git a/ui-v2/app/styles/components/tabs.scss b/ui-v2/app/styles/components/tabs.scss
index 7891006d7d..cc54ac03e8 100644
--- a/ui-v2/app/styles/components/tabs.scss
+++ b/ui-v2/app/styles/components/tabs.scss
@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@
 .tab-nav {
   @extend %tab-nav;
 }
+%tab-nav.animatable {
+  @extend %with-animated-tab-selection;
+}
 .tab-section {
   @extend %tab-section;
   /* this keeps in-tab-section toolbars flush to the top, see Node Detail > Services */
   margin-top: 0 !important;
 }
-%tab-button-selected {
-  @extend %frame-magenta-300;
-}
diff --git a/ui-v2/app/styles/routes/dc/acls/index.scss b/ui-v2/app/styles/routes/dc/acls/index.scss
index 490516773b..8219c401f1 100644
--- a/ui-v2/app/styles/routes/dc/acls/index.scss
+++ b/ui-v2/app/styles/routes/dc/acls/index.scss
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 td a.is-management::after {
   @extend %with-star-fill-mask, %as-pseudo;
-  background-color: $magenta-600;
+  background-color: var(--swatch-brand-600, $black);
   height: 16px;
   top: 2px;
   padding-left: 32px;
diff --git a/ui-v2/app/styles/variables/index.scss b/ui-v2/app/styles/variables/index.scss
index d15df7c46d..85b058cd70 100644
--- a/ui-v2/app/styles/variables/index.scss
+++ b/ui-v2/app/styles/variables/index.scss
@@ -9,4 +9,23 @@
   --decor-radius-200: #{$decor-radius-200};
   --gray-500: #{$gray-500};
   --decor-elevation-600: #{$decor-elevation-600};
+
+  /* base brand colors */
+  --brand-050: #{$magenta-050};
+  // --brand-100: #{$magenta-100};
+  // --brand-200: #{$magenta-200};
+  // --brand-300: #{$magenta-300};
+  // --brand-400: #{$magenta-400};
+  // --brand-500: #{$magenta-500};
+  --brand-600: #{$magenta-600};
+  // --brand-700: #{$magenta-700};
+  --brand-800: #{$magenta-800};
+  // --brand-900: #{$magenta-900};
+
+  /* themeable brand colors */
+  --typo-brand-050: var(--brand-050);
+  --typo-brand-600: var(--brand-600);
+  --decor-brand-600: var(--brand-600);
+  --swatch-brand-600: var(--brand-600);
+  --swatch-brand-800: var(--brand-800);
 }
diff --git a/ui-v2/tests/integration/components/tab-nav-test.js b/ui-v2/tests/integration/components/tab-nav-test.js
index a7fb43fd2c..f4b7750a69 100644
--- a/ui-v2/tests/integration/components/tab-nav-test.js
+++ b/ui-v2/tests/integration/components/tab-nav-test.js
@@ -10,15 +10,15 @@ module('Integration | Component | tab nav', function(hooks) {
     // Set any properties with this.set('myProperty', 'value');
     // Handle any actions with this.on('myAction', function(val) { ... });
 
-    await render(hbs`{{tab-nav}}`);
-
-    assert.dom('*').hasText('');
-
-    // Template block usage:
     await render(hbs`
-      {{#tab-nav}}{{/tab-nav}}
+      <TabNav @items={{array
+        (hash
+          label="Tab Label"
+          href="/"
+        )
+      }} />
     `);
 
-    assert.dom('*').hasText('');
+    assert.dom('*').hasText('Tab Label');
   });
 });
diff --git a/ui-v2/tests/lib/page-object/tabgroup.js b/ui-v2/tests/lib/page-object/tabgroup.js
index e99bfea53c..e25cc9ac3b 100644
--- a/ui-v2/tests/lib/page-object/tabgroup.js
+++ b/ui-v2/tests/lib/page-object/tabgroup.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ export default function(name, items, blankKey = 'all') {
       ...prev,
       ...{
         [`${key}IsSelected`]: is('.selected', `[data-test-tab="${name}_${item}"]`),
-        [key]: clickable(`[data-test-tab="${name}_${item}"] > label > a`),
+        [key]: clickable(`[data-test-tab="${name}_${item}"] a`),
       },
     };
   }, {});