diff --git a/modules/admin/views/installer.php b/modules/admin/views/installer.php
index d983e41..46bb554 100644
--- a/modules/admin/views/installer.php
+++ b/modules/admin/views/installer.php
@@ -11,35 +11,150 @@ $val = static function (string $key, string $default = '') use ($values): string
 
 ob_start();
 ?>
-<section class="card" style="max-width:980px; margin:0 auto;">
-  <div class="badge">Setup</div>
-  <h1 style="margin:16px 0 6px; font-size:30px;">AudioCore V1.5 Installer</h1>
-  <p style="margin:0; color:rgba(235,241,255,.75);">Deploy a fresh instance with validated SMTP and baseline health checks.</p>
+<style>
+  .ac-installer { max-width: 980px; margin: 0 auto; }
+  .ac-installer-title { margin: 16px 0 6px; font-size: 42px; line-height: 1.05; }
+  .ac-installer-intro { margin: 0; color: rgba(235,241,255,.75); }
+  .ac-installer-steps { display: flex; gap: 10px; margin-top: 18px; flex-wrap: wrap; }
+  .ac-step-pill {
+    padding: 8px 12px;
+    border-radius: 999px;
+    border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.16);
+    background: rgba(255,255,255,.03);
+    font-size: 11px;
+    letter-spacing: .18em;
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    font-family: 'IBM Plex Mono', monospace;
+  }
+  .ac-step-pill.is-active { background: rgba(57,244,179,.18); }
 
-  <div style="display:flex; gap:10px; margin-top:18px; flex-wrap:wrap;">
-    <div style="padding:8px 12px; border-radius:999px; border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.16); background:<?= $step === 1 ? 'rgba(57,244,179,.18)' : 'rgba(255,255,255,.03)' ?>;">
-      <span style="font-size:11px; letter-spacing:.18em; text-transform:uppercase;">1. Core Setup</span>
-    </div>
-    <div style="padding:8px 12px; border-radius:999px; border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.16); background:<?= $step === 2 ? 'rgba(57,244,179,.18)' : 'rgba(255,255,255,.03)' ?>;">
-      <span style="font-size:11px; letter-spacing:.18em; text-transform:uppercase;">2. Site + SMTP</span>
-    </div>
+  .ac-installer-form { margin-top: 18px; display: grid; gap: 14px; }
+  .ac-installer-grid {
+    display: grid;
+    grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(220px, 1fr));
+    gap: 12px;
+  }
+  .ac-installer-section {
+    margin-top: 6px;
+    padding-top: 14px;
+    border-top: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.10);
+  }
+
+  .ac-installer label {
+    display: inline-block;
+    margin: 0 0 8px;
+    font-size: 12px;
+    color: rgba(238,244,255,.78);
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    letter-spacing: .16em;
+    font-family: 'IBM Plex Mono', monospace;
+  }
+  .ac-installer .input,
+  .ac-installer textarea.input,
+  .ac-installer select.input {
+    width: 100%;
+    height: 46px;
+    border-radius: 12px;
+    border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.16);
+    background: rgba(12,16,24,.58);
+    color: #edf2ff;
+    padding: 0 14px;
+    font-size: 15px;
+    outline: none;
+  }
+  .ac-installer textarea.input {
+    height: auto;
+    min-height: 92px;
+    padding: 12px 14px;
+    resize: vertical;
+  }
+  .ac-installer .input:focus {
+    border-color: rgba(57,244,179,.55);
+    box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px rgba(57,244,179,.14);
+  }
+
+  .ac-installer-actions {
+    display: flex;
+    justify-content: flex-end;
+    gap: 10px;
+    flex-wrap: wrap;
+    margin-top: 6px;
+  }
+  .ac-installer .button {
+    height: 44px;
+    border-radius: 999px;
+    padding: 0 18px;
+    border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.2);
+    background: rgba(255,255,255,.04);
+    color: #eef4ff;
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    letter-spacing: .16em;
+    font-family: 'IBM Plex Mono', monospace;
+    font-size: 12px;
+    font-weight: 600;
+    cursor: pointer;
+  }
+  .ac-installer .button:hover { background: rgba(255,255,255,.1); }
+  .ac-installer .button-primary {
+    background: linear-gradient(135deg, #25afff, #2bd8ff);
+    border-color: rgba(40,185,255,.75);
+    color: #041019;
+  }
+  .ac-installer .button-primary:hover { filter: brightness(1.05); }
+
+  .ac-installer-alert {
+    margin-top: 16px;
+    border-radius: 12px;
+    padding: 12px 14px;
+  }
+  .ac-installer-alert.error {
+    border: 1px solid rgba(255,124,124,.45);
+    background: rgba(180,40,40,.18);
+    color: #ffd6d6;
+  }
+  .ac-installer-alert.success {
+    border: 1px solid rgba(57,244,179,.45);
+    background: rgba(10,90,60,.22);
+    color: #b8ffe5;
+  }
+
+  .ac-installer-checks {
+    padding: 12px;
+    border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.1);
+    border-radius: 12px;
+    background: rgba(255,255,255,.02);
+  }
+  .ac-installer-checks-title {
+    font-size: 12px;
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    letter-spacing: .16em;
+    color: rgba(255,255,255,.65);
+    margin-bottom: 10px;
+    font-family: 'IBM Plex Mono', monospace;
+  }
+</style>
+
+<section class="card ac-installer">
+  <div class="badge">Setup</div>
+  <h1 class="ac-installer-title">AudioCore V1.5 Installer</h1>
+  <p class="ac-installer-intro">Deploy a fresh instance with validated SMTP and baseline health checks.</p>
+
+  <div class="ac-installer-steps">
+    <div class="ac-step-pill <?= $step === 1 ? 'is-active' : '' ?>">1. Core Setup</div>
+    <div class="ac-step-pill <?= $step === 2 ? 'is-active' : '' ?>">2. Site + SMTP</div>
   </div>
 
   <?php if (!empty($error)): ?>
-    <div style="margin-top:16px; border:1px solid rgba(255,124,124,.45); background:rgba(180,40,40,.18); border-radius:12px; padding:12px 14px; color:#ffd6d6;">
-      <?= htmlspecialchars((string)$error, ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8') ?>
-    </div>
+    <div class="ac-installer-alert error"><?= htmlspecialchars((string)$error, ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8') ?></div>
   <?php endif; ?>
   <?php if (!empty($success)): ?>
-    <div style="margin-top:16px; border:1px solid rgba(57,244,179,.45); background:rgba(10,90,60,.22); border-radius:12px; padding:12px 14px; color:#b8ffe5;">
-      <?= htmlspecialchars((string)$success, ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8') ?>
-    </div>
+    <div class="ac-installer-alert success"><?= htmlspecialchars((string)$success, ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8') ?></div>
   <?php endif; ?>
 
   <?php if ($step === 1): ?>
-    <form method="post" action="/admin/install" style="margin-top:18px; display:grid; gap:14px;">
+    <form method="post" action="/admin/install" class="ac-installer-form">
       <input type="hidden" name="installer_action" value="setup_core">
-      <div style="display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(220px,1fr)); gap:12px;">
+      <div class="ac-installer-grid">
         <div>
           <label>DB Host *</label>
           <input class="input" name="db_host" value="<?= htmlspecialchars($val('db_host', 'localhost'), ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8') ?>">
@@ -62,7 +177,7 @@ ob_start();
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      <div style="margin-top:6px; padding-top:14px; border-top:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.1); display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(220px,1fr)); gap:12px;">
+      <div class="ac-installer-section ac-installer-grid">
         <div>
           <label>Admin Name *</label>
           <input class="input" name="admin_name" value="<?= htmlspecialchars($val('admin_name', 'Admin'), ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8') ?>">
@@ -77,13 +192,13 @@ ob_start();
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      <div style="display:flex; justify-content:flex-end; margin-top:4px;">
+      <div class="ac-installer-actions">
         <button type="submit" class="button button-primary">Create Core Setup</button>
       </div>
     </form>
   <?php else: ?>
-    <form method="post" action="/admin/install" style="margin-top:18px; display:grid; gap:14px;">
-      <div style="display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(220px,1fr)); gap:12px;">
+    <form method="post" action="/admin/install" class="ac-installer-form">
+      <div class="ac-installer-grid">
         <div>
           <label>Site Title *</label>
           <input class="input" name="site_title" value="<?= htmlspecialchars($val('site_title', 'AudioCore V1.5'), ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8') ?>">
@@ -98,11 +213,11 @@ ob_start();
         </div>
         <div style="grid-column:1/-1;">
           <label>SEO Meta Description</label>
-          <textarea class="input" name="seo_meta_description" rows="3" style="resize:vertical;"><?= htmlspecialchars($val('seo_meta_description', ''), ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8') ?></textarea>
+          <textarea class="input" name="seo_meta_description" rows="3"><?= htmlspecialchars($val('seo_meta_description', ''), ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8') ?></textarea>
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      <div style="padding-top:12px; border-top:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.1); display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(220px,1fr)); gap:12px;">
+      <div class="ac-installer-section ac-installer-grid">
         <div>
           <label>SMTP Host *</label>
           <input class="input" name="smtp_host" value="<?= htmlspecialchars($val('smtp_host', ''), ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8') ?>" placeholder="smtp.example.com">
@@ -138,13 +253,11 @@ ob_start();
       </div>
 
       <?php if (!empty($smtpResult)): ?>
-        <div style="border:1px solid <?= !empty($smtpResult['ok']) ? 'rgba(57,244,179,.45)' : 'rgba(255,124,124,.45)' ?>; background:<?= !empty($smtpResult['ok']) ? 'rgba(10,90,60,.22)' : 'rgba(180,40,40,.18)' ?>; border-radius:12px; padding:12px 14px;">
-          <div style="font-weight:700; margin-bottom:4px; color:<?= !empty($smtpResult['ok']) ? '#b8ffe5' : '#ffd6d6' ?>">
+        <div class="ac-installer-alert <?= !empty($smtpResult['ok']) ? 'success' : 'error' ?>" style="margin-top:0;">
+          <div style="font-weight:700; margin-bottom:4px;">
             <?= !empty($smtpResult['ok']) ? 'SMTP test passed' : 'SMTP test failed' ?>
           </div>
-          <div style="color:<?= !empty($smtpResult['ok']) ? '#b8ffe5' : '#ffd6d6' ?>;">
-            <?= htmlspecialchars((string)($smtpResult['message'] ?? ''), ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8') ?>
-          </div>
+          <div><?= htmlspecialchars((string)($smtpResult['message'] ?? ''), ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8') ?></div>
           <?php if (!empty($smtpResult['debug'])): ?>
             <details style="margin-top:8px;">
               <summary style="cursor:pointer;">Debug output</summary>
@@ -155,13 +268,13 @@ ob_start();
       <?php endif; ?>
 
       <?php if (!empty($checks)): ?>
-        <div style="padding:12px; border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.1); border-radius:12px; background:rgba(255,255,255,.02);">
-          <div style="font-size:12px; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.16em; color:rgba(255,255,255,.65); margin-bottom:10px;">Installer Health Checks</div>
+        <div class="ac-installer-checks">
+          <div class="ac-installer-checks-title">Installer Health Checks</div>
           <div style="display:grid; gap:8px;">
             <?php foreach ($checks as $check): ?>
               <div style="display:flex; gap:10px; align-items:flex-start;">
                 <span style="display:inline-flex; align-items:center; justify-content:center; width:18px; height:18px; border-radius:999px; font-size:12px; margin-top:2px; background:<?= !empty($check['ok']) ? 'rgba(57,244,179,.2)' : 'rgba(255,124,124,.2)' ?>; color:<?= !empty($check['ok']) ? '#9ff8d8' : '#ffb7b7' ?>;">
-                  <?= !empty($check['ok']) ? '✓' : '!' ?>
+                  <?= !empty($check['ok']) ? '&#10003;' : '!' ?>
                 </span>
                 <div>
                   <div style="font-weight:600;"><?= htmlspecialchars((string)($check['label'] ?? ''), ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8') ?></div>
@@ -173,7 +286,7 @@ ob_start();
         </div>
       <?php endif; ?>
 
-      <div style="display:flex; justify-content:flex-end; gap:10px; flex-wrap:wrap; margin-top:4px;">
+      <div class="ac-installer-actions">
         <button type="submit" name="installer_action" value="test_smtp" class="button">Send Test Email + Run Checks</button>
         <button type="submit" name="installer_action" value="finish_install" class="button button-primary">Finish Installation</button>
       </div>