diff --git a/frontend/src/App.tsx b/frontend/src/App.tsx
index 63cc728..de35c30 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/App.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { TaskViewsPanel } from './components/TaskViewsPanel';
 import { TaskDetail } from './components/TaskDetail';
 import { ResourceTasksPanel } from './components/ResourceTasksPanel';
 import { CommandPalette } from './components/CommandPalette';
+import { QuickAddModal } from './components/QuickAddModal';
 import { MobileGate } from './components/MobileGate';
 import { useProjects } from './hooks/useProjects';
 import { useTasks } from './hooks/useTasks';
@@ -105,6 +106,7 @@ function AppShell() {
   const [viewPreset, setViewPreset] = usePersistedState<BoardViewPreset>('baton.board.viewPreset', 'all');
   const [releaseTarget, setReleaseTarget] = usePersistedState<string>('baton.board.releaseTarget', '');
   const [paletteOpen, setPaletteOpen] = useState(false);
+  const [quickAddOpen, setQuickAddOpen] = useState(false);
   const [mobileSidebarOpen, setMobileSidebarOpen] = useState(false);
   const [showArchived, setShowArchived] = useState(false);
   const [registryOpen, setRegistryOpen] = useState(false);
@@ -207,6 +209,27 @@ function AppShell() {
     return () => window.removeEventListener('keydown', handler);
   }, []);
 
+  // Global T hotkey to open Quick Add modal.
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    const handler = (e: KeyboardEvent) => {
+      const target = e.target as HTMLElement | null;
+      const isInput = target && (
+        target.tagName === 'INPUT' ||
+        target.tagName === 'TEXTAREA' ||
+        target.tagName === 'SELECT' ||
+        target.isContentEditable
+      );
+      if (isInput) return;
+
+      if ((e.key === 't' || e.key === 'T') && !e.metaKey && !e.ctrlKey && !e.altKey) {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        setQuickAddOpen(true);
+      }
+    };
+    window.addEventListener('keydown', handler);
+    return () => window.removeEventListener('keydown', handler);
+  }, []);
+
   React.useEffect(() => {
     const match = window.location.pathname.match(/^\/(tasks|users|agents)\/([^/]+)$/);
     if (!match) return;
@@ -278,6 +301,7 @@ function AppShell() {
         onOpenRegistry={() => setRegistryOpen(true)}
         onOpenViews={() => setViewsOpen(true)}
         onOpenPalette={() => setPaletteOpen(true)}
+        onOpenQuickAdd={() => setQuickAddOpen(true)}
         onOpenSidebar={() => setMobileSidebarOpen(true)}
         density={density}
         onToggleDensity={() => setDensity(d => d === 'comfortable' ? 'compact' : 'comfortable')}
@@ -483,6 +507,21 @@ function AppShell() {
           onClose={() => setPaletteOpen(false)}
         />
       )}
+      <QuickAddModal
+        isOpen={quickAddOpen}
+        projects={visibleProjects}
+        selectedProjectId={selectedProjectId}
+        users={users}
+        agents={agents}
+        onClose={() => setQuickAddOpen(false)}
+        onSubmit={async (data) => {
+          if (data.projectId !== selectedProjectId) {
+            return await api.createTask(data);
+          }
+          return await createTask(data);
+        }}
+        onOpenDetail={(task) => setLinkedTask(task)}
+      />
     </div>
   );
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Header.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Header.tsx
index 27e41fd..fceb23a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Header.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Header.tsx
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ interface Props {
   onOpenRegistry: () => void;
   onOpenViews: () => void;
   onOpenPalette: () => void;
+  onOpenQuickAdd?: () => void;
   onOpenSidebar: () => void;
   density: 'comfortable' | 'compact';
   onToggleDensity: () => void;
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ export function Header({
   onOpenRegistry,
   onOpenViews,
   onOpenPalette,
+  onOpenQuickAdd,
   onOpenSidebar,
   density,
   onToggleDensity,
@@ -206,6 +208,19 @@ export function Header({
         />
       </div>
 
+      {onOpenQuickAdd && (
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          onClick={onOpenQuickAdd}
+          title="Quick add task (T)"
+          aria-label="Quick add task"
+          className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-xs text-amber-400 bg-amber-500/10 border border-amber-500/30 rounded px-2.5 py-1 hover:bg-amber-500/20 transition-colors font-medium"
+        >
+          <span>+ Quick Add</span>
+          <span className="text-[10px] bg-amber-500/20 text-amber-300 px-1 rounded font-mono">T</span>
+        </button>
+      )}
+
       <button
         type="button"
         onClick={onOpenPalette}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/QuickAddModal.test.ts b/frontend/src/components/QuickAddModal.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ceca272
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/QuickAddModal.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+
+describe('QuickAddModal smart syntax parser', () => {
+  const parseInlineSyntax = (text: string, defaultPriority: string = 'medium', defaultEstimate: number | null = null) => {
+    let clean = text;
+    let parsedPriority: string | null = null;
+    let parsedEstimate: number | null = null;
+
+    const prioMatch = clean.match(/(?:^|\s)!(critical|high|medium|low)(?=\s|$)/i);
+    if (prioMatch) {
+      parsedPriority = prioMatch[1].toLowerCase();
+      clean = clean.replace(prioMatch[0], ' ');
+    }
+
+    const estMatch = clean.match(/(?:^|\s)@(\d+(?:\.\d+)?)(?:pt|h)?(?=\s|$)/i);
+    if (estMatch) {
+      parsedEstimate = parseFloat(estMatch[1]);
+      clean = clean.replace(estMatch[0], '');
+    }
+
+    return {
+      title: clean.trim().replace(/\s+/g, ' '),
+      priority: parsedPriority || defaultPriority,
+      estimate: parsedEstimate !== null ? parsedEstimate : defaultEstimate,
+    };
+  };
+
+  it('parses inline priority !high and estimate @5pt from task title', () => {
+    const result = parseInlineSyntax('Implement OAuth authorization flow !high @5pt');
+    expect(result.title).toBe('Implement OAuth authorization flow');
+    expect(result.priority).toBe('high');
+    expect(result.estimate).toBe(5);
+  });
+
+  it('parses !critical priority with @3 estimate', () => {
+    const result = parseInlineSyntax('Fix production memory leak !critical @3');
+    expect(result.title).toBe('Fix production memory leak');
+    expect(result.priority).toBe('critical');
+    expect(result.estimate).toBe(3);
+  });
+
+  it('retains default priority and estimate when no inline tags present', () => {
+    const result = parseInlineSyntax('Refactor API handlers', 'medium', 2);
+    expect(result.title).toBe('Refactor API handlers');
+    expect(result.priority).toBe('medium');
+    expect(result.estimate).toBe(2);
+  });
+
+  it('does not treat package versions as estimate shortcuts', () => {
+    const result = parseInlineSyntax('Upgrade React@18');
+    expect(result.title).toBe('Upgrade React@18');
+    expect(result.estimate).toBeNull();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/QuickAddModal.tsx b/frontend/src/components/QuickAddModal.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f4dff6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/QuickAddModal.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,385 @@
+import React, { useState, useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
+import type {
+  Priority,
+  Project,
+  RegistryAgent,
+  RegistryUser,
+  Status,
+  WorkType,
+  Task,
+} from '../types';
+import {
+  WORK_TYPE_OPTIONS,
+} from '../types';
+
+interface QuickAddModalProps {
+  isOpen: boolean;
+  projects: Project[];
+  selectedProjectId: string | null;
+  users: RegistryUser[];
+  agents: RegistryAgent[];
+  onClose: () => void;
+  onSubmit: (data: {
+    projectId: string;
+    title: string;
+    description?: string;
+    priority?: Priority;
+    status?: Status;
+    estimate?: number | null;
+    ownerType?: 'unassigned' | 'human' | 'agent' | 'team';
+    assigneeUserId?: string;
+    assigneeName?: string;
+    assigneeEmail?: string;
+    agentId?: string;
+    agentName?: string;
+    workType?: WorkType;
+  }) => Promise<Task>;
+  onOpenDetail?: (task: Task) => void;
+}
+
+export function QuickAddModal({
+  isOpen,
+  projects,
+  selectedProjectId,
+  users,
+  agents,
+  onClose,
+  onSubmit,
+  onOpenDetail,
+}: QuickAddModalProps) {
+  const [projectId, setProjectId] = useState(selectedProjectId || projects[0]?.id || '');
+  const [rawTitle, setRawTitle] = useState('');
+  const [priority, setPriority] = useState<Priority>('medium');
+  const [status, setStatus] = useState<Status>('todo');
+  const [estimate, setEstimate] = useState<string>('');
+  const [assigneeType, setAssigneeType] = useState<'unassigned' | 'human' | 'agent'>('unassigned');
+  const [assigneeUserId, setAssigneeUserId] = useState('');
+  const [agentId, setAgentId] = useState('');
+  const [workType, setWorkType] = useState<WorkType | ''>('');
+  const [description, setDescription] = useState('');
+  const [isSubmitting, setIsSubmitting] = useState(false);
+  const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
+
+  const inputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (isOpen) {
+      setProjectId(selectedProjectId || projects[0]?.id || '');
+      setRawTitle('');
+      setPriority('medium');
+      setStatus('todo');
+      setEstimate('');
+      setAssigneeType('unassigned');
+      setAssigneeUserId('');
+      setAgentId('');
+      setWorkType('');
+      setDescription('');
+      setError(null);
+      setTimeout(() => inputRef.current?.focus(), 50);
+    }
+  }, [isOpen, selectedProjectId, projects]);
+
+  if (!isOpen) return null;
+
+  // Smart inline syntax parser
+  const parseInlineSyntax = (text: string) => {
+    let clean = text;
+    let parsedPriority: Priority | null = null;
+    let parsedEstimate: number | null = null;
+
+    const prioMatch = clean.match(/(?:^|\s)!(critical|high|medium|low)(?=\s|$)/i);
+    if (prioMatch) {
+      parsedPriority = prioMatch[1].toLowerCase() as Priority;
+      clean = clean.replace(prioMatch[0], ' ');
+    }
+
+    const estMatch = clean.match(/(?:^|\s)@(\d+(?:\.\d+)?)(?:pt|h)?(?=\s|$)/i);
+    if (estMatch) {
+      parsedEstimate = parseFloat(estMatch[1]);
+      clean = clean.replace(estMatch[0], '');
+    }
+
+    return {
+      title: clean.trim().replace(/\s+/g, ' '),
+      priority: parsedPriority || priority,
+      estimate: parsedEstimate !== null ? parsedEstimate : (estimate ? parseFloat(estimate) : null),
+    };
+  };
+
+  const handleCreate = async (openDetailAfter: boolean = false) => {
+    if (isSubmitting) return;
+    if (!rawTitle.trim()) {
+      setError('Task title is required');
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!projectId) {
+      setError('Please select a project');
+      return;
+    }
+
+    setIsSubmitting(true);
+    setError(null);
+
+    const { title, priority: finalPriority, estimate: finalEstimate } = parseInlineSyntax(rawTitle);
+
+    try {
+      const selectedUser = users.find(u => u.id === assigneeUserId);
+      const selectedAgent = agents.find(a => a.id === agentId);
+
+      const task = await onSubmit({
+        projectId,
+        title,
+        description: description.trim() || undefined,
+        priority: finalPriority,
+        status,
+        estimate: finalEstimate,
+        ownerType: assigneeType === 'unassigned' ? undefined : assigneeType,
+        assigneeUserId: assigneeType === 'human' ? assigneeUserId : undefined,
+        assigneeName: assigneeType === 'human' ? selectedUser?.name || undefined : undefined,
+        assigneeEmail: assigneeType === 'human' ? selectedUser?.email || undefined : undefined,
+        agentId: assigneeType === 'agent' ? agentId : undefined,
+        agentName: assigneeType === 'agent' ? selectedAgent?.name || undefined : undefined,
+        workType: workType || undefined,
+      });
+
+      onClose();
+      if (openDetailAfter && onOpenDetail) {
+        onOpenDetail(task);
+      }
+    } catch (err: any) {
+      setError(err?.message || 'Failed to create task');
+    } finally {
+      setIsSubmitting(false);
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handleKeyDown = (e: React.KeyboardEvent) => {
+    if (e.key === 'Enter') {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      if (isSubmitting) return;
+      handleCreate(e.shiftKey || e.metaKey || e.ctrlKey);
+    } else if (e.key === 'Escape') {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      onClose();
+    }
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      className="fixed inset-0 z-[75] flex items-start justify-center pt-24 px-4 bg-black/60 backdrop-blur-sm animate-fadeIn"
+      onClick={e => {
+        if (e.target === e.currentTarget) onClose();
+      }}
+    >
+      <div className="w-full max-w-xl bg-[#0d0d0d] border border-[#2a2a2a] rounded-xl shadow-2xl overflow-hidden space-y-0">
+        {/* Header Bar */}
+        <div className="flex items-center justify-between px-4 py-3 border-b border-[#1f1f1f] bg-[#111]">
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+            <span className="text-amber-500 font-bold text-sm">⚡ Quick Add Task</span>
+            <span className="text-[10px] bg-zinc-800 text-zinc-400 px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded border border-zinc-700 font-mono">
+              Press T
+            </span>
+          </div>
+          <button
+            type="button"
+            onClick={onClose}
+            className="text-zinc-500 hover:text-zinc-300 text-lg leading-none"
+          >
+            ×
+          </button>
+        </div>
+
+        {/* Main Body */}
+        <div className="p-4 space-y-4">
+          {/* Title Input with Smart Syntax Helper */}
+          <div className="space-y-1">
+            <input
+              ref={inputRef}
+              type="text"
+              value={rawTitle}
+              onChange={e => setRawTitle(e.target.value)}
+              onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
+              placeholder="What needs to be done? (Use @5pt or !high for quick formatting)..."
+              className="w-full bg-[#141414] border border-[#2a2a2a] focus:border-amber-500/50 rounded-lg px-3 py-2.5 text-sm text-zinc-100 placeholder-zinc-600 outline-none transition-colors"
+            />
+            <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-[10px] text-zinc-500 px-1">
+              <span>Inline shortcuts: <code className="text-zinc-400">@3pt</code> estimate, <code className="text-zinc-400">!high</code> priority</span>
+              <span><kbd className="font-mono text-zinc-400">Enter</kbd> to save • <kbd className="font-mono text-zinc-400">Shift+Enter</kbd> save & open</span>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
+          <div className="space-y-1">
+            <label className="text-[10px] text-zinc-500 uppercase tracking-wider">Description (optional)</label>
+            <textarea
+              value={description}
+              onChange={e => setDescription(e.target.value)}
+              rows={2}
+              placeholder="Add context if needed"
+              className="w-full bg-[#141414] border border-[#2a2a2a] focus:border-amber-500/50 rounded-lg px-3 py-2 text-sm text-zinc-100 placeholder-zinc-600 outline-none resize-none"
+            />
+          </div>
+
+          {/* Controls Grid */}
+          <div className="grid grid-cols-2 sm:grid-cols-4 gap-2.5 pt-1">
+            {/* Project Selector */}
+            <div className="space-y-1">
+              <label className="text-[10px] text-zinc-500 uppercase tracking-wider">Project</label>
+              <select
+                value={projectId}
+                onChange={e => setProjectId(e.target.value)}
+                className="w-full bg-[#141414] border border-[#2a2a2a] rounded text-xs text-zinc-300 px-2 py-1.5 outline-none"
+              >
+                {projects.map(p => (
+                  <option key={p.id} value={p.id}>{p.name}</option>
+                ))}
+              </select>
+            </div>
+
+            {/* Status Selector */}
+            <div className="space-y-1">
+              <label className="text-[10px] text-zinc-500 uppercase tracking-wider">Column</label>
+              <select
+                value={status}
+                onChange={e => setStatus(e.target.value as Status)}
+                className="w-full bg-[#141414] border border-[#2a2a2a] rounded text-xs text-zinc-300 px-2 py-1.5 outline-none"
+              >
+                <option value="todo">Planning / Ready</option>
+                <option value="inprogress">In Progress</option>
+                <option value="done">Done</option>
+              </select>
+            </div>
+
+            {/* Priority Selector */}
+            <div className="space-y-1">
+              <label className="text-[10px] text-zinc-500 uppercase tracking-wider">Priority</label>
+              <select
+                value={priority}
+                onChange={e => setPriority(e.target.value as Priority)}
+                className="w-full bg-[#141414] border border-[#2a2a2a] rounded text-xs text-zinc-300 px-2 py-1.5 outline-none"
+              >
+                <option value="critical">🔴 Critical</option>
+                <option value="high">🟠 High</option>
+                <option value="medium">🟡 Medium</option>
+                <option value="low">⚪ Low</option>
+              </select>
+            </div>
+
+            {/* Quick Estimate Pills */}
+            <div className="space-y-1">
+              <label className="text-[10px] text-zinc-500 uppercase tracking-wider">Estimate</label>
+              <div className="flex gap-1">
+                {['1', '2', '3', '5', '8'].map(pts => (
+                  <button
+                    key={pts}
+                    type="button"
+                    onClick={() => setEstimate(estimate === pts ? '' : pts)}
+                    className={`flex-1 text-xs py-1 rounded border transition-colors ${
+                      estimate === pts
+                        ? 'bg-amber-500/20 border-amber-500/50 text-amber-300 font-semibold'
+                        : 'bg-[#141414] border-[#2a2a2a] text-zinc-400 hover:text-zinc-200'
+                    }`}
+                  >
+                    {pts}
+                  </button>
+                ))}
+              </div>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
+          {/* Secondary Controls: Assignee & Work Type */}
+          <div className="grid grid-cols-2 gap-2.5 pt-1">
+            {/* Assignee Picker */}
+            <div className="space-y-1">
+              <label className="text-[10px] text-zinc-500 uppercase tracking-wider">Assignee</label>
+              <div className="flex gap-1.5">
+                <select
+                  value={assigneeType}
+                  onChange={e => setAssigneeType(e.target.value as any)}
+                  className="w-1/3 bg-[#141414] border border-[#2a2a2a] rounded text-xs text-zinc-300 px-1.5 py-1.5 outline-none"
+                >
+                  <option value="unassigned">None</option>
+                  <option value="human">Human</option>
+                  <option value="agent">AI</option>
+                </select>
+                {assigneeType === 'human' && (
+                  <select
+                    value={assigneeUserId}
+                    onChange={e => setAssigneeUserId(e.target.value)}
+                    className="flex-1 bg-[#141414] border border-[#2a2a2a] rounded text-xs text-zinc-300 px-2 py-1.5 outline-none"
+                  >
+                    <option value="">Select user...</option>
+                    {users.map(u => (
+                      <option key={u.id} value={u.id}>{u.name}</option>
+                    ))}
+                  </select>
+                )}
+                {assigneeType === 'agent' && (
+                  <select
+                    value={agentId}
+                    onChange={e => setAgentId(e.target.value)}
+                    className="flex-1 bg-[#141414] border border-[#2a2a2a] rounded text-xs text-zinc-300 px-2 py-1.5 outline-none"
+                  >
+                    <option value="">Select agent...</option>
+                    {agents.map(a => (
+                      <option key={a.id} value={a.id}>{a.name}</option>
+                    ))}
+                  </select>
+                )}
+              </div>
+            </div>
+
+            {/* Work Type */}
+            <div className="space-y-1">
+              <label className="text-[10px] text-zinc-500 uppercase tracking-wider">Work Type</label>
+              <select
+                value={workType}
+                onChange={e => setWorkType(e.target.value as WorkType)}
+                className="w-full bg-[#141414] border border-[#2a2a2a] rounded text-xs text-zinc-300 px-2 py-1.5 outline-none"
+              >
+                <option value="">Unset</option>
+                {WORK_TYPE_OPTIONS.map(opt => (
+                  <option key={opt.value} value={opt.value}>{opt.label}</option>
+                ))}
+              </select>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
+          {error && (
+            <div className="text-xs text-red-400 bg-red-500/10 border border-red-500/20 p-2 rounded">
+              {error}
+            </div>
+          )}
+        </div>
+
+        {/* Footer Actions */}
+        <div className="flex items-center justify-between px-4 py-3 bg-[#111] border-t border-[#1f1f1f]">
+          <button
+            type="button"
+            onClick={onClose}
+            className="px-3 py-1.5 text-xs text-zinc-400 hover:text-zinc-200"
+          >
+            Cancel
+          </button>
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+            <button
+              type="button"
+              disabled={isSubmitting || !rawTitle.trim()}
+              onClick={() => handleCreate(true)}
+              className="px-3 py-1.5 text-xs font-medium text-amber-400 hover:text-amber-300 bg-amber-500/10 hover:bg-amber-500/20 border border-amber-500/30 rounded transition-colors"
+            >
+              Create & Open
+            </button>
+            <button
+              type="button"
+              disabled={isSubmitting || !rawTitle.trim()}
+              onClick={() => handleCreate(false)}
+              className="px-4 py-1.5 text-xs font-medium text-black bg-amber-500 hover:bg-amber-400 rounded transition-colors"
+            >
+              {isSubmitting ? 'Creating...' : 'Create Task'}
+            </button>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}