diff --git a/src/app/dashboard/layout.tsx b/src/app/dashboard/layout.tsx
index 63ea4a5..bf541d6 100644
--- a/src/app/dashboard/layout.tsx
+++ b/src/app/dashboard/layout.tsx
@@ -72,25 +72,30 @@ export default function DashboardLayout({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
   return (
     <div className="flex h-screen bg-background overflow-hidden text-foreground selection:bg-primary/20">
       {/* Sidebar */}
-      <aside className="w-64 border-r border-border bg-background flex flex-col hidden md:flex">
-        <div className="px-6 py-5">
-          <Logo href="/dashboard" className="w-full" imageClassName="object-contain object-left scale-110 origin-left" height={56} />
+      <aside className="w-64 border-r border-border/60 bg-background/95 backdrop-blur-xl flex flex-col hidden md:flex relative">
+        {/* Subtle gradient overlay */}
+        <div className="absolute inset-0 bg-gradient-to-b from-[#00F0FF]/[0.02] via-transparent to-purple-500/[0.02] pointer-events-none" />
+        
+        {/* Logo */}
+        <div className="px-5 py-4 border-b border-border/40">
+          <Logo href="/dashboard" className="w-full" imageClassName="object-contain object-left scale-105 origin-left" height={52} />
         </div>
-        <nav className="flex-1 min-h-0 px-4 pb-16 space-y-1.5 mt-4 overflow-y-auto custom-scrollbar">
-          {/* <div className="pt-2 pb-2">
-            <p className="px-3 text-xs font-bold uppercase tracking-widest text-muted-foreground flex items-center gap-2">
-              <span className="w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-white"></span> Free Tier
-            </p>
-          </div> */}
+        
+        <nav className="flex-1 min-h-0 px-3 py-3 overflow-y-auto custom-scrollbar space-y-0.5">
           
-          <div className="pt-3 pb-1">
-            <p className="px-4 text-[11px] font-bold uppercase tracking-widest text-muted-foreground flex items-center gap-2">
-              <span className="w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-yellow-500"></span> Pro Tier
-            </p>
+          {/* PRO TIER Section */}
+          <div className="px-2 pt-2 pb-2">
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+              <div className="h-px flex-1 bg-gradient-to-r from-transparent via-yellow-500/40 to-transparent" />
+              <span className="text-[10px] font-black uppercase tracking-[0.15em] text-yellow-600 dark:text-yellow-400 flex items-center gap-1.5 shrink-0">
+                <span className="w-1 h-1 rounded-full bg-yellow-500 shadow-[0_0_4px_#EAB308]"></span>
+                Pro Tier
+              </span>
+              <div className="h-px flex-1 bg-gradient-to-l from-transparent via-yellow-500/40 to-transparent" />
+            </div>
           </div>
           
           <NavItem href="/dashboard" icon={<LayoutDashboard size={17} />} label="Overview" active={pathname === "/dashboard"} />
-          {/* <NavItem href="/dashboard/dpp" icon={<FileText size={17} />} label="Target DPPs" active={pathname.startsWith("/dashboard/dpp")} /> */}
           <NavItem href="/dashboard/leaderboard" icon={<Trophy size={17} />} label="Leaderboard" active={pathname.startsWith("/dashboard/leaderboard")} />
           <NavItem 
             href="/dashboard/progress" 
@@ -128,11 +133,18 @@ export default function DashboardLayout({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
             isLocked={!hasAccessTo("doubt-resolution-community")}
           />
           
-          <div className="pt-4 pb-1">
-            <p className="px-4 text-[11px] font-bold uppercase tracking-widest text-muted-foreground flex items-center gap-2">
-              <span className="w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-cyan-500"></span> AI Coach
-            </p>
+          {/* AI COACH Section */}
+          <div className="px-2 pt-4 pb-2">
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+              <div className="h-px flex-1 bg-gradient-to-r from-transparent via-cyan-500/50 to-transparent" />
+              <span className="text-[10px] font-black uppercase tracking-[0.15em] text-cyan-600 dark:text-cyan-400 flex items-center gap-1.5 shrink-0">
+                <span className="w-1 h-1 rounded-full bg-cyan-500 shadow-[0_0_6px_#00F0FF] dark:shadow-[0_0_8px_#00F0FF]"></span>
+                AI Coach
+              </span>
+              <div className="h-px flex-1 bg-gradient-to-l from-transparent via-cyan-500/50 to-transparent" />
+            </div>
           </div>
+          
           <NavItem 
             href="/dashboard/ai-coach/tutor" 
             icon={<BrainCircuitIcon />} 
@@ -205,28 +217,29 @@ export default function DashboardLayout({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
           />
         </nav>
         
-        <div className="p-4 border-t border-border space-y-2 bg-secondary/30">
+        {/* Bottom Settings + Profile */}
+        <div className="p-3 border-t border-border/40 bg-secondary/10 space-y-1.5">
           <Link 
             href="/dashboard/settings"
-            className={`flex items-center gap-3 px-3 py-2.5 rounded-xl transition-all duration-300 border ${
+            className={`flex items-center gap-3 px-3 py-2.5 rounded-xl transition-all duration-200 border ${
               pathname.startsWith("/dashboard/settings")
-                ? "bg-background text-foreground font-medium border-border shadow-sm" 
-                : "text-muted-foreground hover:bg-background/80 hover:text-foreground border-transparent hover:border-border/50"
+                ? "bg-[#00F0FF]/10 text-foreground font-semibold border-[#00F0FF]/20" 
+                : "text-muted-foreground hover:bg-secondary/60 hover:text-foreground border-transparent"
             }`}
           >
-            <Settings size={18} />
-            <span className="text-sm">Settings</span>
+            <Settings size={17} className="shrink-0" />
+            <span className="text-[13px] font-medium">Settings</span>
           </Link>
           
           {/* Functional User Dropdown */}
-          <div className="relative mt-2" ref={dropdownRef}>
+          <div className="relative" ref={dropdownRef}>
             {dropdownOpen && user && (
-              <div className="absolute bottom-full left-0 w-full mb-2 bg-background border border-border rounded-xl shadow-lg shadow-black/10 overflow-hidden animate-in fade-in slide-in-from-bottom-2 duration-200 z-50">
-                <div className="px-4 py-3 border-b border-border">
+              <div className="absolute bottom-full left-0 w-full mb-2 bg-background border border-border rounded-xl shadow-xl shadow-black/20 overflow-hidden animate-in fade-in slide-in-from-bottom-2 duration-200 z-50">
+                <div className="px-4 py-3 border-b border-border bg-secondary/30">
                   <p className="text-sm font-bold text-foreground truncate">{user.name}</p>
                   <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground truncate">{user.email || user.phone}</p>
                 </div>
-                <div className="p-1">
+                <div className="p-1.5">
                   <Link href="/dashboard/settings" className="flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-2 text-sm text-foreground hover:bg-secondary rounded-lg transition-colors">
                     <User size={16} /> Edit Profile
                   </Link>
@@ -242,10 +255,10 @@ export default function DashboardLayout({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
             
             <button 
               onClick={() => setDropdownOpen(!dropdownOpen)}
-              className="w-full flex items-center justify-between p-2 rounded-xl bg-background/50 hover:bg-background transition-colors border border-border/50 shadow-sm mt-3"
+              className="w-full flex items-center justify-between p-2.5 rounded-xl bg-secondary/40 hover:bg-secondary/70 transition-all duration-200 border border-border/50 hover:border-border group"
             >
               <div className="flex items-center gap-3 text-left">
-                <div className="h-8 w-8 rounded-full bg-cyan-500/20 text-cyan-700 dark:bg-cyan-500/20 dark:text-cyan-400 flex items-center justify-center font-bold text-sm shadow-none dark:shadow-[0_0_10px_-2px_#00F0FF] shrink-0">
+                <div className="h-8 w-8 rounded-full bg-cyan-500/20 text-cyan-700 dark:bg-cyan-500/20 dark:text-cyan-400 flex items-center justify-center font-bold text-sm shrink-0 border border-cyan-500/20 dark:shadow-[0_0_10px_-2px_#00F0FF]">
                   {userInitials}
                 </div>
                 <div className="flex-1 min-w-0">
@@ -253,7 +266,7 @@ export default function DashboardLayout({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
                   <div className="mt-1"><TierBadge tier={user ? (user.tier === "Al_Coach" ? "AI Coach" : user.tier) : "Free"} /></div>
                 </div>
               </div>
-              <ChevronUp size={16} className={`text-muted-foreground transition-transform shrink-0 ${dropdownOpen ? "rotate-180" : ""}`} />
+              <ChevronUp size={15} className={`text-muted-foreground transition-transform shrink-0 ${dropdownOpen ? "rotate-180" : ""}`} />
             </button>
           </div>
         </div>