diff --git a/frontend_nuxt/components/BaseUserAvatar.vue b/frontend_nuxt/components/BaseUserAvatar.vue
index bfaae5071..78295542f 100644
--- a/frontend_nuxt/components/BaseUserAvatar.vue
+++ b/frontend_nuxt/components/BaseUserAvatar.vue
@@ -1,13 +1,18 @@
 <template>
-  <NuxtLink
-    :to="resolvedLink"
+  <component
+    :is="wrapperTag"
+    :to="isLink ? resolvedLink : undefined"
     class="base-user-avatar"
     :class="wrapperClass"
     :style="wrapperStyle"
     v-bind="wrapperAttrs"
+    :role="isLink ? undefined : 'img'"
+    :aria-label="altText"
+    :title="altText"
   >
+    <span class="base-user-avatar-backdrop" aria-hidden="true" />
     <BaseImage :src="currentSrc" :alt="altText" class="base-user-avatar-img" @error="onError" />
-  </NuxtLink>
+  </component>
 </template>
 
 <script setup>
@@ -76,15 +81,45 @@ const sizeStyle = computed(() => {
   return { width: value, height: value }
 })
 
-const wrapperStyle = computed(() => {
-  const attrStyle = attrs.style
-  return [sizeStyle.value, attrStyle]
+const accentHue = computed(() => {
+  const seed = props.userId ?? props.alt
+  const source = seed !== undefined && seed !== null ? String(seed) : ''
+  if (!source) return 198
+  let hash = 0
+  for (let index = 0; index < source.length; index += 1) {
+    hash = (hash << 5) - hash + source.charCodeAt(index)
+    hash |= 0
+  }
+  return Math.abs(hash) % 360
 })
 
-const wrapperClass = computed(() => [attrs.class, { 'is-rounded': props.rounded }])
+const accentStyles = computed(() => {
+  const hue = accentHue.value
+  return {
+    '--avatar-accent': `hsl(${hue}, 74%, 54%)`,
+    '--avatar-accent-light': `hsl(${hue}, 95%, 82%)`,
+    '--avatar-accent-soft': `hsl(${hue}, 96%, 95%)`,
+    '--avatar-accent-border': `hsla(${hue}, 70%, 48%, 0.28)`,
+    '--avatar-accent-shadow': `hsla(${hue}, 68%, 36%, 0.2)`,
+  }
+})
+
+const wrapperStyle = computed(() => {
+  const attrStyle = attrs.style
+  return [accentStyles.value, sizeStyle.value, attrStyle]
+})
+
+const isLink = computed(() => !props.disableLink && !!resolvedLink.value)
+
+const wrapperTag = computed(() => (isLink.value ? 'NuxtLink' : 'div'))
+
+const wrapperClass = computed(() => [
+  attrs.class,
+  { 'is-rounded': props.rounded, 'is-interactive': isLink.value },
+])
 
 const wrapperAttrs = computed(() => {
-  const { class: _class, style: _style, ...rest } = attrs
+  const { class: _class, style: _style, to: _to, href: _href, ...rest } = attrs
   return rest
 })
 
@@ -97,11 +132,26 @@ function onError() {
 
 <style scoped>
 .base-user-avatar {
+  position: relative;
   display: inline-flex;
   align-items: center;
   justify-content: center;
   overflow: hidden;
-  background-color: var(--avatar-placeholder-color, #f0f0f0);
+  border-radius: 16px;
+  background: linear-gradient(
+    140deg,
+    var(--avatar-accent-soft, rgba(17, 182, 197, 0.12)) 0%,
+    var(--avatar-accent-light, rgba(17, 182, 197, 0.22)) 100%
+  );
+  border: 1px solid var(--avatar-accent-border, rgba(17, 182, 197, 0.2));
+  box-shadow:
+    0 1px 2px rgba(15, 52, 67, 0.08),
+    0 3px 8px var(--avatar-accent-shadow, rgba(17, 182, 197, 0.18));
+  transition:
+    transform 0.3s ease,
+    box-shadow 0.3s ease,
+    border-color 0.3s ease,
+    background 0.3s ease;
 }
 
 .base-user-avatar.is-rounded {
@@ -112,10 +162,54 @@ function onError() {
   border-radius: 0;
 }
 
+.base-user-avatar-backdrop {
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0;
+  pointer-events: none;
+  background:
+    radial-gradient(circle at 28% 28%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.72), transparent 62%),
+    linear-gradient(150deg, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08), transparent),
+    linear-gradient(
+      140deg,
+      var(--avatar-accent-soft, rgba(17, 182, 197, 0.08)) 0%,
+      var(--avatar-accent-light, rgba(17, 182, 197, 0.18)) 100%
+    );
+  opacity: 0.75;
+  transition:
+    opacity 0.35s ease,
+    transform 0.35s ease;
+  z-index: 0;
+}
+
 .base-user-avatar-img {
+  position: relative;
   width: 100%;
   height: 100%;
   object-fit: cover;
   display: block;
+  z-index: 1;
+  border-radius: inherit;
+  transition: transform 0.35s ease;
+}
+
+.base-user-avatar.is-interactive:hover,
+.base-user-avatar.is-interactive:focus-visible {
+  transform: translateY(-1px) scale(1.02);
+  border-color: var(--avatar-accent, var(--primary-color, #0a6e78));
+  box-shadow:
+    0 6px 16px var(--avatar-accent-shadow, rgba(17, 182, 197, 0.24)),
+    0 3px 6px rgba(15, 52, 67, 0.18);
+  outline: none;
+}
+
+.base-user-avatar.is-interactive:hover .base-user-avatar-backdrop,
+.base-user-avatar.is-interactive:focus-visible .base-user-avatar-backdrop {
+  opacity: 1;
+  transform: scale(1.05);
+}
+
+.base-user-avatar.is-interactive:hover .base-user-avatar-img,
+.base-user-avatar.is-interactive:focus-visible .base-user-avatar-img {
+  transform: scale(1.02);
 }
 </style>