diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(pres_mgmt)/pres_mgmt/+page.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(pres_mgmt)/pres_mgmt/+page.svelte
index 413ad73a..649fe7d2 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(pres_mgmt)/pres_mgmt/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(pres_mgmt)/pres_mgmt/+page.svelte
@@ -552,29 +552,25 @@
             </div>
         {:else}
             <section
-                class="text-center text-2xl bg-yellow-100 p-4 rounded-md lg:max-w-lg space-y-2 mx-auto"
+                class="preset-tonal-warning p-6 rounded-xl lg:max-w-lg space-y-4 mx-auto shadow-sm"
+                role="status"
+                aria-live="polite"
             >
-                <div>
-                    <span
-                        class="fas fa-exclamation-triangle text-2xl text-yellow-500"
-                    ></span>
-                    <strong>No results to show</strong>
-                    <span
-                        class="fas fa-exclamation-triangle text-2xl text-yellow-500"
-                    ></span>
-                    <br />
-                    <div class="text-lg">
-                        Please use the search above to find your session.
-                    </div>
+                <div class="flex flex-col items-center gap-2 text-center">
+                    <span class="fas fa-search text-3xl opacity-50" aria-hidden="true"></span>
+                    <strong class="text-xl">No sessions found</strong>
+                    <p class="text-base opacity-80">
+                        Use the search bar above to find your session.
+                    </p>
                 </div>
-                <div>
-                    <strong>Search by:</strong>
-                    <ul class="list-disc list-inside text-lg text-left">
-                        <li>Session name</li>
-                        <li>Session description</li>
-                        <li>Presentation name</li>
-                        <li>Presenter names</li>
-                        <li>Presenter ID (member ID)</li>
+                <div class="bg-surface-50-900/60 rounded-lg p-3">
+                    <span class="text-xs font-bold uppercase tracking-wide opacity-50 block mb-2">Search by any of:</span>
+                    <ul class="space-y-1 text-sm">
+                        <li class="flex items-center gap-1.5"><span class="fas fa-angle-right text-xs opacity-50" aria-hidden="true"></span> Session name</li>
+                        <li class="flex items-center gap-1.5"><span class="fas fa-angle-right text-xs opacity-50" aria-hidden="true"></span> Session description</li>
+                        <li class="flex items-center gap-1.5"><span class="fas fa-angle-right text-xs opacity-50" aria-hidden="true"></span> Presentation name</li>
+                        <li class="flex items-center gap-1.5"><span class="fas fa-angle-right text-xs opacity-50" aria-hidden="true"></span> Presenter names</li>
+                        <li class="flex items-center gap-1.5"><span class="fas fa-angle-right text-xs opacity-50" aria-hidden="true"></span> Presenter ID (member ID)</li>
                     </ul>
                 </div>
             </section>
diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(pres_mgmt)/session/[session_id]/+page.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(pres_mgmt)/session/[session_id]/+page.svelte
index bd30cbd2..ea729648 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(pres_mgmt)/session/[session_id]/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(pres_mgmt)/session/[session_id]/+page.svelte
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@
     <!-- Pass observable STORES to child components (they use $) -->
     <Session_page_menu {data} {lq__event_session_obj} {lq__auth__event_presenter_obj} />
 
-    <!-- Metadata Section -->
-    <div class="bg-surface-50-950 p-4 rounded-container-token shadow-sm border border-surface-200-800">
+    <!-- Metadata Section: Session identity card — name, time, room, host, description -->
+    <div class="bg-surface-50-950 p-4 rounded-xl shadow-sm border border-surface-200-800">
         <Session_view
             {lq__event_presenter_obj}
             {lq__event_session_obj}
diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(pres_mgmt)/session/[session_id]/session_view.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(pres_mgmt)/session/[session_id]/session_view.svelte
index a273c630..0de381f5 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(pres_mgmt)/session/[session_id]/session_view.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(pres_mgmt)/session/[session_id]/session_view.svelte
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
         if ($lq__event_session_obj?.id && $events_loc.pres_mgmt.show_content__session_qr && !$events_sess.pres_mgmt.session_qr_url[$lq__event_session_obj.id]) {
             $events_sess.pres_mgmt.session_qr_url[$lq__event_session_obj.id] = true;
             let url_str = encodeURI(`${$ae_loc.url_origin}/events/${$lq__event_session_obj.event_id}/session/${$lq__event_session_obj.id}`);
-            
+
             core_func.generate_qr_code({
                 api_cfg: $ae_api,
                 account_id: $slct.account_id,
@@ -59,106 +59,132 @@
     });
 </script>
 
-<!-- STABLE LAYOUT: No top-level #if gate. Children mount immediately. -->
-<section class="p-2 space-y-4">
-    {#if $lq__event_session_obj && $events_sess.pres_mgmt.session_qr_url[$lq__event_session_obj.id]}
-        <div class="float-right m-1 p-1 flex flex-col items-center outline outline-gray-200 group transition-all">
-            <button
-                type="button"
-                onclick={() => $events_sess.pres_mgmt.qr_bigger = !$events_sess.pres_mgmt.qr_bigger}
-                class="qr_code_btn"
-                title="Toggle QR Code size"
-            >
-                <img
-                    src={$events_sess.pres_mgmt.session_qr_url[$lq__event_session_obj.id]}
-                    class="qr_code h-32 w-32 transition-all duration-500"
-                    class:h-48={$events_sess.pres_mgmt.qr_bigger}
-                    alt="URL QR code"
-                />
-            </button>
-            <MyClipboard
-                value={encodeURI(`${$ae_loc.url_origin}/events/${$lq__event_session_obj.event_id}/session/${$lq__event_session_obj.id}`)}
-                btn_class="m-1 btn btn-sm preset-tonal-warning"
-                hide_icon={true}
-                hide_text={true}
-            >
-                <span class="fas fa-link"></span>
-            </MyClipboard>
+<!--
+    SESSION VIEW — Speaker Ready Room & Remote Upload
+    Primary users: Presenters uploading files (remote) + Staff helping presenters (onsite).
+    Design intent: "Is this the right session?" must be answerable in <3 seconds.
+    Show: name, time, room, host, description. Hide admin noise unless edit_mode.
+    Section 508: all interactive elements labelled, focus rings, sufficient contrast.
+-->
+<section class="space-y-3">
+
+    <!-- SESSION HERO: Name + Schedule + Room -->
+    <div class="rounded-xl border border-surface-200-800 bg-surface-50-900 shadow-sm overflow-hidden">
+        <div class="px-4 pt-4 pb-3 flex flex-col gap-3">
+
+            <!-- QR code: floats top-right, compact by default, toggle to enlarge.
+                 Only rendered once the async URL is resolved (string), never while
+                 it is still the boolean `true` loading placeholder. -->
+            {#if $lq__event_session_obj && typeof $events_sess.pres_mgmt.session_qr_url?.[$lq__event_session_obj.id] === 'string'}
+                <div class="float-right ml-3 mb-1 flex flex-col items-center gap-1">
+                    <button
+                        type="button"
+                        onclick={() => $events_sess.pres_mgmt.qr_bigger = !$events_sess.pres_mgmt.qr_bigger}
+                        class="rounded focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-primary-500"
+                        title="Toggle QR code size"
+                        aria-label="Toggle QR code size"
+                    >
+                        <img
+                            src={$events_sess.pres_mgmt.session_qr_url[$lq__event_session_obj.id]}
+                            class="transition-all duration-500 rounded border border-surface-200-800"
+                            class:h-20={!$events_sess.pres_mgmt.qr_bigger}
+                            class:w-20={!$events_sess.pres_mgmt.qr_bigger}
+                            class:h-40={$events_sess.pres_mgmt.qr_bigger}
+                            class:w-40={$events_sess.pres_mgmt.qr_bigger}
+                            alt="QR code link to this session page"
+                        />
+                    </button>
+                    <MyClipboard
+                        value={encodeURI(`${$ae_loc.url_origin}/events/${$lq__event_session_obj.event_id}/session/${$lq__event_session_obj.id}`)}
+                        btn_class="btn btn-sm preset-tonal-surface text-xs"
+                        hide_icon={false}
+                        hide_text={true}
+                    >
+                        <span class="fas fa-link" aria-hidden="true"></span>
+                    </MyClipboard>
+                </div>
+            {/if}
+
+            <!-- Session Name: the primary identity check -->
+            {#if $lq__event_session_obj}
+                <div>
+                    <Element_ae_obj_field_editor_v3
+                        object_type={'event_session'}
+                        object_id={$lq__event_session_obj.id}
+                        field_name={'name'}
+                        field_type={'text'}
+                        current_value={$lq__event_session_obj.name}
+                        on_success={() => events_func.load_ae_obj_id__event_session({api_cfg: $ae_api, event_session_id: $lq__event_session_obj.id})}
+                    >
+                        <h1 class="text-2xl font-bold leading-snug">{$lq__event_session_obj.name}</h1>
+                    </Element_ae_obj_field_editor_v3>
+                    {#if $ae_loc.edit_mode}
+                        <span class="badge preset-tonal-surface text-xs mt-1">code: {$lq__event_session_obj.code}</span>
+                    {/if}
+                </div>
+            {:else}
+                <!-- Skeleton placeholder while LiveQuery resolves -->
+                <div class="h-7 w-2/3 bg-surface-200-800 animate-pulse rounded"></div>
+            {/if}
+
+            <!-- Date/Time + Room as info chips -->
+            {#if $lq__event_session_obj}
+                <div class="flex flex-wrap gap-2 items-center">
+                    <span class="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-semibold px-3 py-1 rounded-full bg-primary-500/10 text-primary-700 dark:text-primary-300 transition-colors duration-200">
+                        <span class="fas fa-clock text-xs" aria-hidden="true"></span>
+                        {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter($lq__event_session_obj.start_datetime, 'dddd')},
+                        {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter($lq__event_session_obj.start_datetime, $events_loc.pres_mgmt.datetime_format)}
+                        &ndash;
+                        {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter($lq__event_session_obj.end_datetime, $events_loc.pres_mgmt.time_format)}
+                    </span>
+                    {#if $lq__event_session_obj.event_location_name}
+                        <span class="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-semibold px-3 py-1 rounded-full bg-tertiary-500/10 text-tertiary-700 dark:text-tertiary-300 transition-colors duration-200">
+                            <span class="fas fa-map-marker-alt text-xs" aria-hidden="true"></span>
+                            {$lq__event_session_obj.event_location_name}
+                        </span>
+                    {/if}
+                </div>
+            {:else}
+                <div class="h-5 w-1/2 bg-surface-200-800 animate-pulse rounded-full"></div>
+            {/if}
+
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <!-- Host / POC: visible when assigned and layout config allows -->
+    <div class:hidden={$events_loc.pres_mgmt?.hide__session_poc}>
+        {#if $lq__event_session_obj?.poc_person_id}
+            <div class="flex items-center gap-2">
+                <span class="text-sm font-semibold opacity-60">Host:</span>
+                <button
+                    type="button"
+                    class="btn btn-sm preset-tonal-primary transition-colors duration-200"
+                    onclick={() => $events_sess.pres_mgmt.show__session_poc_profile = true}
+                    aria-haspopup="dialog"
+                >
+                    <span class="fas fa-id-card mr-1" aria-hidden="true"></span>
+                    {$lq__event_session_obj.poc_person_full_name}
+                </button>
+
+                <Modal title="Host Profile" bind:open={$events_sess.pres_mgmt.show__session_poc_profile}>
+                    <Comp_event_session_poc_profile lq__event_session_obj={$lq__event_session_obj} />
+                    {#snippet footer()}
+                        <button onclick={() => $events_sess.pres_mgmt.show__session_poc_profile = false} class="btn preset-tonal-warning">Close</button>
+                    {/snippet}
+                </Modal>
+            </div>
+        {:else if $lq__event_session_obj && !$events_loc.pres_mgmt?.hide__session_poc}
+            <span class="text-sm opacity-40 italic">No host assigned</span>
+        {/if}
+    </div>
+
+    <!-- Description: shown only when present —
+         long descriptions are scrollable via the parent container -->
+    {#if $lq__event_session_obj?.description}
+        <div class="rounded-lg border border-surface-200-800 bg-surface-50-900 px-4 py-3">
+            <span class="text-xs font-bold uppercase tracking-wide opacity-40 block mb-1">Description</span>
+            <p class="whitespace-pre-wrap text-sm leading-relaxed">{$lq__event_session_obj.description}</p>
         </div>
     {/if}
 
-    <ul class="space-y-2 px-4">
-        <!-- Name & Code -->
-        <li>
-            {#if $lq__event_session_obj}
-                <Element_ae_obj_field_editor_v3
-                    object_type={'event_session'}
-                    object_id={$lq__event_session_obj.id}
-                    field_name={'name'}
-                    field_type={'text'}
-                    current_value={$lq__event_session_obj.name}
-                    on_success={() => events_func.load_ae_obj_id__event_session({api_cfg: $ae_api, event_session_id: $lq__event_session_obj.id})}
-                >
-                    <span class="font-bold text-xl">{$lq__event_session_obj.name}</span>
-                </Element_ae_obj_field_editor_v3>
-                {#if $ae_loc.edit_mode}
-                    <span class="badge preset-tonal-surface">code: {$lq__event_session_obj.code}</span>
-                {/if}
-            {/if}
-        </li>
-
-        <!-- Date & Time -->
-        <li>
-            {#if $lq__event_session_obj}
-                <span class="text-sm font-semibold opacity-70">Date & Time:</span>
-                <span class="fas fa-calendar-alt opacity-50 ml-1"></span>
-                <span class="font-medium">
-                    {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter($lq__event_session_obj.start_datetime, 'dddd')},
-                    {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter($lq__event_session_obj.start_datetime, $events_loc.pres_mgmt.datetime_format)}
-                    -
-                    {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter($lq__event_session_obj.end_datetime, $events_loc.pres_mgmt.time_format)}
-                </span>
-            {/if}
-        </li>
-
-        <!-- Host / POC -->
-        <li class:hidden={$events_loc.pres_mgmt?.hide__session_poc}>
-            {#if $lq__event_session_obj}
-                <span class="text-sm font-semibold opacity-70">Host:</span>
-                {#if $lq__event_session_obj.poc_person_id}
-                    <button
-                        type="button"
-                        class="btn btn-sm preset-tonal-primary"
-                        onclick={() => $events_sess.pres_mgmt.show__session_poc_profile = true}
-                    >
-                        <span class="fas fa-id-card mr-1"></span>
-                        {$lq__event_session_obj.poc_person_full_name}
-                    </button>
-
-                    <Modal title="Host Profile" bind:open={$events_sess.pres_mgmt.show__session_poc_profile}>
-                        <Comp_event_session_poc_profile lq__event_session_obj={$lq__event_session_obj} />
-                        {#snippet footer()}
-                            <button onclick={() => $events_sess.pres_mgmt.show__session_poc_profile = false} class="btn preset-tonal-warning">Close</button>
-                        {/snippet}
-                    </Modal>
-                {:else}
-                    <span class="italic opacity-50">Not assigned</span>
-                {/if}
-            {/if}
-        </li>
-
-        <!-- Description -->
-        <li>
-            {#if $lq__event_session_obj}
-                <div class="mt-2">
-                    <span class="text-sm font-semibold opacity-70">Description:</span>
-                    {#if $lq__event_session_obj.description}
-                        <pre class="whitespace-pre-wrap p-3 bg-neutral-100 dark:bg-neutral-800 rounded-md mt-1 text-sm">{$lq__event_session_obj.description}</pre>
-                    {:else}
-                        <span class="italic opacity-50 ml-1">No description provided</span>
-                    {/if}
-                </div>
-            {/if}
-        </li>
-    </ul>
 </section>
diff --git a/src/routes/events/ae_comp__event_presentation_obj_li.svelte b/src/routes/events/ae_comp__event_presentation_obj_li.svelte
index 38b15e74..904d2e35 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/ae_comp__event_presentation_obj_li.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/ae_comp__event_presentation_obj_li.svelte
@@ -53,16 +53,7 @@
 </script>
 
 <section
-    class="
-    ae_comp event_presentation_obj_li
-    border-dashed border-y-transparent border-r-transparent
-    sm:border-l-red-400 md:border-l-yellow-400 lg:border-l-gray-100
-    sm:dark:border-l-red-600 md:dark:border-l-yellow-600 lg:dark:border-l-gray-700
-    px-0.5 py-2 space-y-2
-    min-w-full
-    w-full
-    container overflow-x-scroll {container_class_li}
-    "
+    class="ae_comp event_presentation_obj_li px-0.5 py-2 space-y-2 min-w-full w-full container overflow-x-auto {container_class_li}"
 >
     <div class="float-right flex flex-row items-center">
         {#if $ae_loc.trusted_access && $ae_loc.edit_mode}
@@ -126,9 +117,9 @@
     </h3>
 
     <!-- Show presentations for this LiveQuery -->
-    <ul class="space-y-4 p-4 m-2 rounded-md preset-filled-surface-400-600">
+    <ul class="space-y-4">
         {#each lq__event_presentation_obj_li ?? [] as event_presentation_obj (event_presentation_obj.event_presentation_id)}
-            <li class="space-y-2 border border-gray-200 p-2 rounded-md">
+            <li class="space-y-3 border border-surface-200-800 bg-surface-50-900 p-4 rounded-xl shadow-sm transition-colors duration-200">
                 <div class="float-right space-2 flex flex-row items-center">
                     {#if $ae_loc.trusted_access && $ae_loc.edit_mode}
                         <button
@@ -169,7 +160,7 @@
                     {/if}
                 </div>
 
-                <h4 class="h5 rounded-md p-2 preset-filled-surface-300-700">
+                <h4 class="text-lg font-bold rounded-lg px-3 py-2 bg-surface-100-900 flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
                     <span
                         class:hidden={!event_presentation_obj.start_datetime ||
                             $events_loc.pres_mgmt
@@ -215,7 +206,7 @@
                     >
                         {#if (event_presentation_obj?.code || event_presentation_obj?.abstract_code) && !$events_loc.pres_mgmt.hide__presentation_code}
                             <span
-                                class="text-sm text-gray-500 bg-yellow-100 p-1 rounded-md border border-yellow-200"
+                                class="text-xs preset-tonal-warning px-2 py-0.5 rounded-md leading-none"
                                 title="Presentation code {event_presentation_obj?.code} and abstract code {event_presentation_obj?.abstract_code}"
                             >
                                 <span class="fas fa-barcode"></span>
@@ -370,7 +361,7 @@
                             </button>
 
                             <pre
-                                class="whitespace-pre-wrap p-2 bg-gray-100 rounded-md"
+                                class="whitespace-pre-wrap p-3 bg-surface-100-900 rounded-lg text-sm"
                                 class:hidden={$events_sess.pres_mgmt
                                     .show_content__presentation_description !==
                                     event_presentation_obj.event_presentation_id}>{event_presentation_obj.description}</pre>
diff --git a/src/routes/events/ae_comp__event_session_obj_li.svelte b/src/routes/events/ae_comp__event_session_obj_li.svelte
index 573e090f..66ce7aca 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/ae_comp__event_session_obj_li.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/ae_comp__event_session_obj_li.svelte
@@ -141,9 +141,9 @@
             <tbody>
                 {#each visible_session_obj_li as session_obj, index (session_obj.id || session_obj.event_session_id || session_obj.event_session_id_random || index)}
                     <tr
-                        class="relative"
+                        class="relative transition-colors duration-200"
                         class:opacity-50={session_obj?.hide}
-                        class:variant-soft-warning={!session_obj?.enable}
+                        class:preset-tonal-warning={!session_obj?.enable}
                     >
                         <td>
                             {#if session_obj?.alert && $ae_loc.trusted_access}
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@
                                 <div class="flex items-center gap-2">
                                     <a
                                         href="/events/{session_obj?.event_id}/session/{session_obj?.event_session_id}"
-                                        class="flex flex-row gap-2 items-center font-bold text-lg hover:text-primary-500 text-left"
+                                        class="flex flex-row gap-2 items-center font-bold text-lg hover:text-primary-500 text-left transition-colors duration-200"
                                     >
                                         {#if session_obj?.hide}
                                             <EyeOff