diff --git a/SKILLS.md b/SKILLS.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..36165f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/SKILLS.md
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+
+
+---
+
+## Session Learnings (2026-07-15 13:32)
+
+
+### Code Conventions
+
+- remove the title input and it should be add by role
diff --git a/next.config.ts b/next.config.ts
index cf6dcfd..cd8fc24 100644
--- a/next.config.ts
+++ b/next.config.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ const nextConfig: NextConfig = {
       { hostname: "*.unsplash.com", protocol: "https" },
       { hostname: "avatars.githubusercontent.com", protocol: "https" },
       { hostname: "cdn.jsdelivr.net", protocol: "https" },
+      { hostname: "res.cloudinary.com", protocol: "https" },
+      { hostname: "*.gravatar.com", protocol: "https" },
+      { hostname: "gravatar.com", protocol: "https" },
     ],
   },
 };
diff --git a/src/app/(public)/page.tsx b/src/app/(public)/page.tsx
index 2fc1a8f..2871627 100644
--- a/src/app/(public)/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(public)/page.tsx
@@ -47,13 +47,12 @@ export default async function Page() {
           <Community contributors={data.contributors} wall={data.wall} />
         </div>
       </section>
-      <section className="w-full py-16 sm:py-24">
+      <section className="w-full py-28 sm:py-44">
         <div className="mx-auto max-w-7xl px-4">
           <MembersSpotlightSection />
         </div>
       </section>
       <Cta stats={data.stats} />
-      <section className=""></section>
     </div>
   );
 }
diff --git a/src/features/home/community.tsx b/src/features/home/community.tsx
index 7faaba9..3ad01bf 100644
--- a/src/features/home/community.tsx
+++ b/src/features/home/community.tsx
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ export const Community = ({ contributors, wall }: CommunityProps) => {
                     <span className="text-muted-foreground font-mono text-xs">#{index + 1}</span>
                   </div>
                   <div className="mt-auto space-y-1">
-                    <p className="text-xl font-medium">{contributor.name ?? contributor.login}</p>
+                    <p className="text-xl font-medium text-black">{contributor.name ?? contributor.login}</p>
                     <p className="text-muted-foreground font-mono text-xs">@{contributor.login}</p>
                   </div>
                   <p className="font-mono text-sm">
diff --git a/src/features/home/hero.tsx b/src/features/home/hero.tsx
index c43036c..030b4c8 100644
--- a/src/features/home/hero.tsx
+++ b/src/features/home/hero.tsx
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ export const Hero = ({ featured, stats, faces }: HeroProps) => {
         </motion.div>
       </div>
       {featured && (
-        <motion.div {...enter(0.36)} className="relative w-full">
+        <motion.div {...enter(0.36)} className="relative min-h-150 w-full">
           <div aria-hidden className="bg-main/25 absolute inset-x-1/4 top-1/4 bottom-1/4 rounded-full blur-3xl" />
           {reducedMotion ? (
             <div className="border-border-default bg-background relative mx-auto w-fit rounded-3xl border shadow-xl">
diff --git a/src/features/members/member-card.tsx b/src/features/members/member-card.tsx
index b628b61..e2bf6e3 100644
--- a/src/features/members/member-card.tsx
+++ b/src/features/members/member-card.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 import { ExternalLink } from "lucide-react";
-
-import { Avatar, AvatarFallback, AvatarImage } from "@/components/ui/avatar";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { Badge } from "@/components/ui/badge";
 
 import type { MemberProfile } from "./types";
+import Image from "next/image";
 
 const MAX_VISIBLE_SKILLS = 4;
 
@@ -30,36 +29,59 @@ export const MemberCard = ({ member }: { member: MemberProfile }) => {
   const overflowCount = member.skills.length - visibleSkills.length;
 
   return (
-    <div className="border-border-default bg-background flex h-full w-full flex-col gap-4 rounded-2xl border p-5 transition-transform hover:-translate-y-1 hover:shadow-lg">
-      <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
-        <Avatar size="lg">
-          {member.avatarUrl && <AvatarImage src={member.avatarUrl} alt={member.displayName} />}
-          <AvatarFallback>{initialsOf(member.displayName)}</AvatarFallback>
-        </Avatar>
-        <div className="min-w-0">
-          <p className="truncate font-semibold">{member.displayName}</p>
-          <p className="text-muted-foreground truncate text-sm">{member.title}</p>
+    <div className="group border-border relative h-80 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-xl border shadow-sm">
+      {/* Avatar */}
+      {member.avatarUrl ? (
+        <Image alt={member.displayName} className="object-cover" fill sizes="100%" src={member.avatarUrl} />
+      ) : (
+        <div className="bg-muted text-muted-foreground flex h-full w-full items-center justify-center text-4xl font-bold">
+          {initialsOf(member.displayName)}
         </div>
-      </div>
+      )}
 
-      <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-1.5">
-        <Badge variant="outline">{member.experience}</Badge>
-        {visibleSkills.map((skill) => (
-          <Badge key={skill} variant="secondary">
-            {skill}
-          </Badge>
-        ))}
-        {overflowCount > 0 && <Badge variant="ghost">+{overflowCount}</Badge>}
+      {/* Gradient overlay always visible at bottom */}
+      <div className="absolute inset-x-0 bottom-0 bg-linear-to-t from-black/80 to-transparent px-4 pt-10 pb-3">
+        <p className="truncate text-lg font-semibold text-white">{member.displayName}</p>
       </div>
 
-      {member.portfolioUrl && (
-        <Button asChild variant="outline" size="sm" className="mt-auto gap-1.5">
-          <a href={member.portfolioUrl} target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">
-            View Portfolio
-            <ExternalLink />
-          </a>
-        </Button>
-      )}
+      {/* Hover panel */}
+      <div className="absolute inset-x-0 bottom-0 translate-y-full bg-black/85 p-4 backdrop-blur-sm transition-transform duration-300 group-hover:translate-y-0">
+        <p className="truncate text-base font-semibold text-white">{member.displayName}</p>
+        <p className="text-sm text-white/70">{member.title}</p>
+
+        {member.bio && <p className="mt-2 line-clamp-2 text-xs text-white/60">{member.bio}</p>}
+
+        {member.skills.length > 0 && (
+          <div className="mt-3 flex flex-wrap gap-1">
+            {visibleSkills.map((skill) => (
+              <Badge key={skill} variant="secondary" className="text-xs">
+                {skill}
+              </Badge>
+            ))}
+            {overflowCount > 0 && (
+              <Badge variant="outline" className="text-xs text-white/70">
+                +{overflowCount}
+              </Badge>
+            )}
+          </div>
+        )}
+
+        <div className="mt-3 flex items-center justify-between">
+          <Badge className="text-xs">{member.experience}</Badge>
+          {member.portfolioUrl && (
+            <Button
+              asChild
+              size="sm"
+              variant="ghost"
+              className="h-7 gap-1 px-2 text-xs text-white hover:bg-white/20 hover:text-white"
+            >
+              <a href={member.portfolioUrl} target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">
+                Portfolio <ExternalLink className="h-3 w-3" />
+              </a>
+            </Button>
+          )}
+        </div>
+      </div>
     </div>
   );
 };
diff --git a/src/features/members/profile-form.tsx b/src/features/members/profile-form.tsx
index afcf320..877045c 100644
--- a/src/features/members/profile-form.tsx
+++ b/src/features/members/profile-form.tsx
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import type { z } from "zod";
 
 import { Select, SelectContent, SelectItem, SelectTrigger, SelectValue } from "@/components/ui/select";
 import { Avatar, AvatarFallback, AvatarImage } from "@/components/ui/avatar";
-import { EXPERIENCE_LEVELS, type MemberProfile } from "./types";
+import { EXPERIENCE_LEVELS, MEMBER_ROLES, type MemberProfile } from "./types";
 import { useMyProfile, useUpdateProfile } from "./hooks";
 import { Textarea } from "@/components/ui/textarea";
 import { profileSchema } from "./profile-schema";
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ const MAX_AVATAR_BYTES = 2 * 1024 * 1024;
 
 const toFormInput = (profile: MemberProfile): ProfileFormInput => ({
   displayName: profile.displayName,
-  title: profile.title,
+  // Legacy profiles may hold a free-text title; force a fresh role pick for those.
+  title: (MEMBER_ROLES as readonly string[]).includes(profile.title) ? profile.title : "",
   bio: profile.bio ?? "",
   portfolioUrl: profile.portfolioUrl ?? "",
   githubUrl: profile.githubUrl ?? "",
@@ -202,10 +203,25 @@ export const ProfileForm = () => {
       </div>
 
       <div className="space-y-1.5">
-        <label htmlFor="title" className="text-sm font-medium">
-          Title
-        </label>
-        <Input id="title" placeholder="Senior Backend Dev" {...form.register("title")} />
+        <span className="text-sm font-medium">Role</span>
+        <Controller
+          control={form.control}
+          name="title"
+          render={({ field }) => (
+            <Select value={field.value} onValueChange={field.onChange}>
+              <SelectTrigger className="w-full">
+                <SelectValue placeholder="Choose a role" />
+              </SelectTrigger>
+              <SelectContent>
+                {MEMBER_ROLES.map((role) => (
+                  <SelectItem key={role} value={role}>
+                    {role}
+                  </SelectItem>
+                ))}
+              </SelectContent>
+            </Select>
+          )}
+        />
         {form.formState.errors.title && (
           <p className="text-destructive text-xs">{form.formState.errors.title.message}</p>
         )}
diff --git a/src/features/members/profile-schema.ts b/src/features/members/profile-schema.ts
index ab3e86d..58577d5 100644
--- a/src/features/members/profile-schema.ts
+++ b/src/features/members/profile-schema.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { z } from "zod";
 
-import { EXPERIENCE_LEVELS } from "./types";
+import { EXPERIENCE_LEVELS, MEMBER_ROLES } from "./types";
 
 /** An optional URL field: accepts a valid URL, or an empty string normalized to `undefined`. */
 const optionalUrl = z
@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@ export const profileSchema = z.object({
     .trim()
     .min(1, "Display name is required.")
     .max(100, "Display name must be 100 characters or fewer."),
-  title: z.string().trim().min(1, "Title is required.").max(100, "Title must be 100 characters or fewer."),
+  title: z.string().refine((value) => (MEMBER_ROLES as readonly string[]).includes(value), {
+    message: "Choose a role.",
+  }),
   bio: z
     .string()
     .trim()
diff --git a/src/features/members/spotlight-carousel.tsx b/src/features/members/spotlight-carousel.tsx
index 2b3b6cf..a8e9c85 100644
--- a/src/features/members/spotlight-carousel.tsx
+++ b/src/features/members/spotlight-carousel.tsx
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ export const SpotlightCarousel = () => {
   return (
     <div className="flex snap-x snap-mandatory scrollbar-none gap-4 overflow-x-auto pb-4 [-ms-overflow-style:none] [&::-webkit-scrollbar]:hidden">
       {members.map((member) => (
-        <div key={member.id} className="w-72 shrink-0 snap-start">
+        <div key={member.id} className="aspect-2/3 w-72 shrink-0 snap-start">
           <MemberCard member={member} />
         </div>
       ))}
diff --git a/src/features/members/spotlight-section.tsx b/src/features/members/spotlight-section.tsx
index 4b71f1a..7a49d31 100644
--- a/src/features/members/spotlight-section.tsx
+++ b/src/features/members/spotlight-section.tsx
@@ -2,21 +2,31 @@
 
 import { SpotlightCarousel } from "./spotlight-carousel";
 
+import { Reveal } from "@/features/home";
+
 /**
- * Self-contained "Member Spotlight" section for the home page: heading plus the
- * spotlight carousel. Mount directly inside a `<section>` wrapper.
+ * Self-contained "Member Spotlight" section for the home page: eyebrow label,
+ * editorial heading, and the spotlight carousel — matching the other home
+ * sections. Mount directly inside a `<section>` wrapper.
  *
  * @returns The spotlight section.
  * @example
- * <section className="py-5 sm:py-10">
- *   <div className="mx-auto max-w-7xl space-y-4">
+ * <section className="w-full py-28 sm:py-44">
+ *   <div className="mx-auto max-w-7xl px-4">
  *     <MembersSpotlightSection />
  *   </div>
  * </section>
  */
 export const MembersSpotlightSection = () => (
-  <div className="space-y-6">
-    <h2 className="text-3xl font-medium sm:text-4xl">Member Spotlight</h2>
-    <SpotlightCarousel />
+  <div className="space-y-20">
+    <Reveal>
+      <p className="text-muted-foreground mb-8 font-mono text-xs tracking-[0.35em] uppercase">[ Member Spotlight ]</p>
+      <h2 className="max-w-3xl text-4xl leading-tight font-medium text-balance sm:text-6xl">
+        Meet the people you&apos;ll ship with.
+      </h2>
+    </Reveal>
+    <Reveal delay={0.1}>
+      <SpotlightCarousel />
+    </Reveal>
   </div>
 );
diff --git a/src/features/members/types.ts b/src/features/members/types.ts
index f6117fc..8342c01 100644
--- a/src/features/members/types.ts
+++ b/src/features/members/types.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,23 @@ export const EXPERIENCE_LEVELS = ["Junior", "Mid", "Senior", "Lead"] as const;
 /** Union of valid `MemberProfile.experience` values. */
 export type ExperienceLevel = (typeof EXPERIENCE_LEVELS)[number];
 
+/** Roles a member can pick for their profile; stored as `title` on the backend. */
+export const MEMBER_ROLES = [
+  "Frontend Developer",
+  "Backend Developer",
+  "Fullstack Developer",
+  "Mobile Developer",
+  "DevOps Engineer",
+  "Data Engineer",
+  "Machine Learning Engineer",
+  "UI/UX Designer",
+  "QA Engineer",
+  "Product Manager",
+] as const;
+
+/** Union of valid member role values. */
+export type MemberRole = (typeof MEMBER_ROLES)[number];
+
 /** A member's public profile, as returned by every `/members/*` endpoint. */
 export type MemberProfile = {
   id: string;