diff --git a/public/images/just-a-skater-icon.png b/public/images/just-a-skater-icon.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0572027
Binary files /dev/null and b/public/images/just-a-skater-icon.png differ
diff --git a/public/images/just-a-skater.png b/public/images/just-a-skater.png
deleted file mode 100644
index 81e2553..0000000
Binary files a/public/images/just-a-skater.png and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/src/pages/LabPage.tsx b/src/pages/LabPage.tsx
index 43503a1..e48f488 100644
--- a/src/pages/LabPage.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/LabPage.tsx
@@ -1297,38 +1297,33 @@ export default function LabPage() {
         {/* ── Skater directory cross-link ── */}
         <Link
           to="/skaters"
-          className="group relative flex items-stretch gap-0 rounded-2xl overflow-hidden border border-white/10 bg-gradient-to-r from-[#ff0040]/10 via-black to-[#ccff00]/5 mb-5 hover:border-[#ff0040]/50 transition-all duration-300 shadow-lg shadow-black/40 hover:shadow-[#ff0040]/10"
+          className="group relative flex items-center gap-3 rounded-2xl border border-white/10 bg-gradient-to-r from-[#ff0040]/10 via-black to-[#ccff00]/5 p-4 mb-5 hover:border-[#ff0040]/50 transition-all duration-300 shadow-lg shadow-black/40 hover:shadow-[#ff0040]/10"
         >
-          {/* Featured photo — framed with a neon edge, consistent with the app's look */}
-          <div className="relative flex-shrink-0 w-[104px] sm:w-[128px] overflow-hidden">
+          {/* Neon skater icon — small, colored, matches the app's rounded-tile icon slots */}
+          <div className="flex-shrink-0 w-12 h-12 rounded-xl bg-[#ff0040]/15 flex items-center justify-center overflow-hidden group-hover:bg-[#ff0040]/25 transition-colors">
             <img
-              src="/images/just-a-skater.png"
+              src="/images/just-a-skater-icon.png"
               alt="Skater"
               loading="lazy"
-              className="absolute inset-0 h-full w-full object-cover object-center transition-transform duration-500 group-hover:scale-105"
+              className="w-10 h-10 object-contain drop-shadow-[0_0_6px_rgba(255,0,64,0.5)] transition-transform duration-300 group-hover:scale-110"
             />
-            {/* Fade the photo into the card body so it feels integrated, not pasted on */}
-            <div className="absolute inset-0 bg-gradient-to-r from-transparent via-transparent to-black" />
-            <div className="absolute inset-0 bg-gradient-to-t from-[#ff0040]/20 to-transparent mix-blend-screen" />
           </div>
 
           {/* Copy */}
-          <div className="relative min-w-0 flex-1 flex items-center gap-3 py-4 pr-4 pl-4">
-            <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
-              <p className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-[10px] font-black uppercase tracking-widest text-[#ccff00] mb-1">
-                <PersonStanding className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
-                The Crew
-              </p>
-              <p className="font-black uppercase text-base leading-tight">
-                Just a <span className="text-[#ff0040]" style={{ textShadow: '0 0 12px rgba(255,0,64,0.6)' }}>skater</span>?
-              </p>
-              <p className="text-xs text-gray-400 mt-1 leading-snug">
-                The Lab's for services. Browse &amp; join the whole skater community &rarr;
-              </p>
-            </div>
-            <div className="flex-shrink-0 w-9 h-9 rounded-full bg-[#ff0040]/15 flex items-center justify-center group-hover:bg-[#ff0040]/30 transition-colors">
-              <ArrowRight className="h-5 w-5 text-[#ff0040] group-hover:translate-x-0.5 transition-transform" />
-            </div>
+          <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
+            <p className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-[10px] font-black uppercase tracking-widest text-[#ccff00] mb-0.5">
+              <PersonStanding className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+              The Crew
+            </p>
+            <p className="font-black uppercase text-sm leading-tight">
+              Just a <span className="text-[#ff0040]" style={{ textShadow: '0 0 12px rgba(255,0,64,0.6)' }}>skater</span>?
+            </p>
+            <p className="text-xs text-gray-400 mt-0.5 leading-snug">
+              The Lab's for services. Browse &amp; join the whole skater community
+            </p>
+          </div>
+          <div className="flex-shrink-0 w-9 h-9 rounded-full bg-[#ff0040]/15 flex items-center justify-center group-hover:bg-[#ff0040]/30 transition-colors">
+            <ArrowRight className="h-5 w-5 text-[#ff0040] group-hover:translate-x-0.5 transition-transform" />
           </div>
         </Link>