diff --git a/apps/account/admin/user.py b/apps/account/admin/user.py
index ea41791..a3ef984 100644
--- a/apps/account/admin/user.py
+++ b/apps/account/admin/user.py
@@ -40,7 +40,23 @@ class UserAdminCreationForm(UserCreationForm):
         return email
 
 
+import json
+from apps.account.admin.widgets import GroupPillSelectMultipleWidget, RolePermissionsMatrixWidget
+
+
 class UserAdminChangeForm(UserChangeForm):
+    groups = forms.ModelMultipleChoiceField(
+        queryset=Group.objects.all(),
+        widget=GroupPillSelectMultipleWidget,
+        required=False,
+        label=_("Assigned Groups")
+    )
+    custom_permissions = forms.CharField(
+        widget=RolePermissionsMatrixWidget,
+        required=False,
+        label=_("Application Permissions Matrix")
+    )
+
     class Meta(UserChangeForm.Meta):
         model = User
 
@@ -49,6 +65,17 @@ class UserAdminChangeForm(UserChangeForm):
         if 'email' in self.fields:
             self.fields['email'].required = True
 
+    def clean_custom_permissions(self):
+        val = self.cleaned_data.get('custom_permissions')
+        if isinstance(val, str):
+            try:
+                return json.loads(val) if val.strip() else {}
+            except Exception:
+                return {}
+        elif isinstance(val, dict):
+            return val
+        return {}
+
 
 class UserAdmin(ModelAdmin, BaseUserAdmin):
     form = UserAdminChangeForm
@@ -59,7 +86,7 @@ class UserAdmin(ModelAdmin, BaseUserAdmin):
     list_display_links = ('first_name', 'last_name', 'fullname', 'email')
     ordering = ("-id",)
     search_fields = ('email', 'first_name', 'last_name', 'fullname', 'username',)
-    filter_horizontal = ('groups', 'user_permissions')
+    filter_horizontal = ('user_permissions',)
     list_filter = [
         "role",
         "user_type",
@@ -117,22 +144,16 @@ class UserAdmin(ModelAdmin, BaseUserAdmin):
                 ("role", "user_type"),
                 ("is_active", "is_staff", "is_superuser"),
                 "groups",
+                "custom_permissions",
             ),
         }),
-        (_("Granular Permissions"), {
-            "classes": ["tab"],
-            "description": _("Low-level Django database permissions assigned directly to this user. Recommended to manage permissions via Roles or Groups instead."),
+        (_("Raw Database Permissions"), {
+            "classes": ["tab", "collapse"],
+            "description": _("Low-level Django database permissions for internal operations. Application features are managed in the Permissions Matrix above."),
             "fields": (
                 "user_permissions",
             ),
         }),
-        (_("Custom Permissions"), {
-            "classes": ["tab"],
-            "description": _("Override specific permissions for this individual user (JSON dictionary of {permission_name: True/False}). Overrides take precedence over the role defaults."),
-            "fields": (
-                "custom_permissions",
-            ),
-        }),
         (_("Timestamps & Metadata"), {
             "classes": ["tab"],
             "fields": (
diff --git a/apps/account/admin/widgets.py b/apps/account/admin/widgets.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..243c6b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/account/admin/widgets.py
@@ -0,0 +1,414 @@
+import json
+from django import forms
+from django.utils.html import escape
+from django.utils.safestring import mark_safe
+
+from apps.account.models.role import Role, PERMISSION_CATEGORIES, ALL_PERMISSION_FIELDS
+
+
+CATEGORY_ICONS = {
+    "Identity & Profiles": "badge",
+    "Chat & Communications": "forum",
+    "CMS & Articles": "article",
+    "LMS & Academics": "school",
+    "Meetings": "video_camera_front",
+    "Events": "event",
+    "Community Projects": "task_alt",
+    "Donations & Charity": "volunteer_activism",
+    "Support & Tickets": "confirmation_number",
+    "Dynamic Forms": "dynamic_form",
+    "Diplomacy & Institutional": "public",
+    "Administration & Security": "admin_panel_settings",
+}
+
+
+class GroupPillSelectMultipleWidget(forms.CheckboxSelectMultiple):
+    """
+    Renders Django auth Groups as modern, interactive clickable pill cards.
+    Replaces the cumbersome dual-listbox with instant one-click toggle chips.
+    """
+    def render(self, name, value, attrs=None, renderer=None):
+        if value is None:
+            value = []
+        elif isinstance(value, str):
+            value = [value]
+        else:
+            value = [str(v) for v in value]
+
+        attrs = attrs or {}
+        output = [
+            '<div class="group-pills-wrapper my-2">',
+            '  <div class="flex flex-wrap gap-2.5 items-center">'
+        ]
+
+        has_choices = False
+        for option_value, option_label in self.choices:
+            if not option_value:
+                continue
+            has_choices = True
+            is_checked = str(option_value) in value
+            checked_attr = 'checked' if is_checked else ''
+            
+            card_class = (
+                'group-pill-card cursor-pointer select-none inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-3.5 py-2 rounded-lg border text-sm transition-all duration-150 '
+                + ('bg-indigo-50 border-indigo-400 text-indigo-700 shadow-xs dark:bg-indigo-950/60 dark:border-indigo-600 dark:text-indigo-300 font-semibold'
+                   if is_checked else 'bg-white border-slate-200 text-slate-700 hover:bg-slate-50 dark:bg-slate-900 dark:border-slate-700 dark:text-slate-300 dark:hover:bg-slate-800')
+            )
+            icon_name = 'check_circle' if is_checked else 'add_circle'
+            icon_class = 'material-symbols-outlined text-base pill-icon ' + ('text-indigo-600 dark:text-indigo-400' if is_checked else 'text-slate-400')
+
+            output.append(
+                f'<label class="{card_class}">'
+                f'<input type="checkbox" name="{escape(name)}" value="{escape(option_value)}" {checked_attr} class="hidden group-pill-input">'
+                f'<span class="{icon_class}">{icon_name}</span>'
+                f'<span class="pill-title">{escape(option_label)}</span>'
+                f'</label>'
+            )
+
+        if not has_choices:
+            output.append('<span class="text-xs text-slate-400 italic">No groups available in system.</span>')
+
+        output.append('''
+            </div>
+            <div class="text-xs text-slate-400 dark:text-slate-500 mt-2">
+                Click any group chip to instantly assign or revoke membership for this user.
+            </div>
+        </div>
+        <script>
+        (function() {
+            document.addEventListener('change', function(e) {
+                if (e.target && e.target.classList.contains('group-pill-input')) {
+                    const label = e.target.closest('.group-pill-card');
+                    if (!label) return;
+                    const icon = label.querySelector('.pill-icon');
+                    if (e.target.checked) {
+                        label.className = 'group-pill-card cursor-pointer select-none inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-3.5 py-2 rounded-lg border text-sm transition-all duration-150 bg-indigo-50 border-indigo-400 text-indigo-700 shadow-xs dark:bg-indigo-950/60 dark:border-indigo-600 dark:text-indigo-300 font-semibold';
+                        if (icon) {
+                            icon.textContent = 'check_circle';
+                            icon.className = 'material-symbols-outlined text-base text-indigo-600 dark:text-indigo-400 pill-icon';
+                        }
+                    } else {
+                        label.className = 'group-pill-card cursor-pointer select-none inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-3.5 py-2 rounded-lg border text-sm transition-all duration-150 bg-white border-slate-200 text-slate-700 hover:bg-slate-50 dark:bg-slate-900 dark:border-slate-700 dark:text-slate-300 dark:hover:bg-slate-800';
+                        if (icon) {
+                            icon.textContent = 'add_circle';
+                            icon.className = 'material-symbols-outlined text-base text-slate-400 pill-icon';
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            });
+        })();
+        </script>
+        ''')
+        return mark_safe('\n'.join(output))
+
+
+class RolePermissionsMatrixWidget(forms.Widget):
+    """
+    Renders an interactive, categorized visual permissions matrix.
+    Allows point-and-click permission overriding (Inherit / Allow / Deny)
+    with real-time inheritance tracking from the user's Assigned Role.
+    """
+    def render(self, name, value, attrs=None, renderer=None):
+        if isinstance(value, str):
+            try:
+                overrides = json.loads(value) if value.strip() else {}
+            except Exception:
+                overrides = {}
+        elif isinstance(value, dict):
+            overrides = value
+        else:
+            overrides = {}
+
+        # Fetch all roles and their permissions dictionary
+        roles_data = {}
+        for r in Role.objects.all():
+            roles_data[str(r.id)] = r.get_permissions_dict()
+
+        categories_data = []
+        for cat_label, field_names in PERMISSION_CATEGORIES.items():
+            cat_name_str = str(cat_label)
+            icon = CATEGORY_ICONS.get(cat_name_str, "admin_panel_settings")
+            perms_list = []
+            for field_name in field_names:
+                try:
+                    f = Role._meta.get_field(field_name)
+                    vname = str(f.verbose_name)
+                except Exception:
+                    vname = field_name.replace("_", " ").title()
+                perms_list.append({
+                    "name": field_name,
+                    "label": vname,
+                })
+            categories_data.append({
+                "title": cat_name_str,
+                "icon": icon,
+                "perms": perms_list,
+            })
+
+        roles_json_str = json.dumps(roles_data)
+        overrides_json_str = json.dumps(overrides)
+
+        html_parts = [
+            '<div id="role-perm-matrix-root" class="w-full my-3 font-sans">',
+            f'<textarea name="{escape(name)}" id="id_{escape(name)}" class="hidden">{escape(overrides_json_str)}</textarea>',
+            f'<script id="matrix-roles-data" type="application/json">{roles_json_str}</script>',
+            f'<script id="matrix-overrides-data" type="application/json">{overrides_json_str}</script>',
+            '''
+            <!-- Header Info & Search Toolbar -->
+            <div class="flex flex-col md:flex-row md:items-center justify-between gap-3 p-4 bg-slate-50 dark:bg-slate-900/60 rounded-xl border border-slate-200 dark:border-slate-800 mb-4 shadow-xs">
+                <div>
+                    <h3 class="font-bold text-base text-slate-800 dark:text-slate-100 flex items-center gap-2">
+                        <span class="material-symbols-outlined text-indigo-600 dark:text-indigo-400">tune</span>
+                        <span>Application Permissions Matrix</span>
+                    </h3>
+                    <p class="text-xs text-slate-500 dark:text-slate-400 mt-1">
+                        Permissions are automatically inherited from the user's <strong>Assigned Role</strong>. You can selectively override any permission below.
+                    </p>
+                </div>
+                <div class="flex items-center gap-2">
+                    <div class="relative w-full md:w-64">
+                        <span class="material-symbols-outlined absolute left-3 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 text-slate-400 text-sm">search</span>
+                        <input type="text" id="matrix-search-input" placeholder="Filter permissions..." class="w-full pl-9 pr-3 py-1.5 text-xs rounded-lg border border-slate-200 dark:border-slate-700 bg-white dark:bg-slate-800 text-slate-800 dark:text-slate-200 focus:outline-none focus:border-indigo-500 focus:ring-1 focus:ring-indigo-500">
+                    </div>
+                    <button type="button" id="matrix-collapse-all-btn" class="px-2.5 py-1.5 text-xs font-medium rounded-lg border border-slate-200 dark:border-slate-700 bg-white dark:bg-slate-800 text-slate-600 dark:text-slate-300 hover:bg-slate-100 dark:hover:bg-slate-700 transition-colors whitespace-nowrap">
+                        Toggle All
+                    </button>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+
+            <!-- Categories Container -->
+            <div class="flex flex-col gap-3" id="matrix-categories-list">
+            '''
+        ]
+
+        for cat in categories_data:
+            cat_title = cat["title"]
+            cat_icon = cat["icon"]
+            cat_perms = cat["perms"]
+
+            html_parts.append(f'''
+                <div class="matrix-category-card border border-slate-200 dark:border-slate-800 rounded-xl overflow-hidden bg-white dark:bg-slate-900/50 transition-all shadow-xs" data-category="{escape(cat_title)}">
+                    <!-- Category Header -->
+                    <div class="matrix-cat-header flex items-center justify-between px-4 py-3 bg-slate-50/80 dark:bg-slate-800/40 cursor-pointer hover:bg-slate-100/70 dark:hover:bg-slate-800/80 select-none transition-colors border-b border-slate-100 dark:border-slate-800/60">
+                        <div class="flex items-center gap-2.5">
+                            <span class="material-symbols-outlined text-indigo-600 dark:text-indigo-400 text-lg">{cat_icon}</span>
+                            <span class="font-semibold text-sm text-slate-800 dark:text-slate-200">{escape(cat_title)}</span>
+                            <span class="text-xs px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full font-medium bg-slate-100 dark:bg-slate-800 text-slate-600 dark:text-slate-400 cat-count-badge">
+                                {len(cat_perms)} permissions
+                            </span>
+                        </div>
+                        <div class="flex items-center gap-2">
+                            <span class="text-xs text-indigo-600 dark:text-indigo-400 font-medium cat-override-badge hidden">0 custom</span>
+                            <span class="material-symbols-outlined text-slate-400 text-base transition-transform cat-chevron rotate-180">expand_more</span>
+                        </div>
+                    </div>
+
+                    <!-- Category Items Grid -->
+                    <div class="matrix-cat-body p-3.5 grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 gap-2.5">
+            ''')
+
+            for p in cat_perms:
+                p_name = p["name"]
+                p_label = p["label"]
+
+                html_parts.append(f'''
+                    <div class="matrix-perm-row flex items-center justify-between p-2.5 rounded-lg border border-slate-100 dark:border-slate-800/80 bg-slate-50/40 dark:bg-slate-800/20 hover:bg-slate-50 dark:hover:bg-slate-800/40 transition-colors" data-perm-name="{escape(p_name)}">
+                        <div class="flex flex-col pr-2 min-w-0">
+                            <span class="text-xs font-semibold text-slate-800 dark:text-slate-200 truncate" title="{escape(p_label)}">
+                                {escape(p_label)}
+                            </span>
+                            <span class="text-[11px] text-slate-400 mt-0.5 perm-status-label">
+                                Checking role...
+                            </span>
+                        </div>
+                        <!-- 3-Way Segmented Control -->
+                        <div class="inline-flex rounded-lg border border-slate-200 dark:border-slate-700 bg-slate-100 dark:bg-slate-800 p-0.5 shrink-0 text-xs perm-btn-group">
+                            <button type="button" data-val="inherit" class="px-2 py-1 rounded-md text-[11px] font-medium transition-all perm-btn perm-btn-inherit bg-white dark:bg-slate-700 text-slate-800 dark:text-slate-100 shadow-xs">
+                                Inherit
+                            </button>
+                            <button type="button" data-val="allow" class="px-2 py-1 rounded-md text-[11px] font-medium transition-all perm-btn perm-btn-allow text-slate-600 dark:text-slate-400 hover:text-green-600">
+                                Allow
+                            </button>
+                            <button type="button" data-val="deny" class="px-2 py-1 rounded-md text-[11px] font-medium transition-all perm-btn perm-btn-deny text-slate-600 dark:text-slate-400 hover:text-red-600">
+                                Deny
+                            </button>
+                        </div>
+                    </div>
+                ''')
+
+            html_parts.append('''
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+            ''')
+
+        html_parts.append(f'''
+            </div>
+        </div>
+
+        <script>
+        (function() {{
+            const rolesEl = document.getElementById('matrix-roles-data');
+            const overridesEl = document.getElementById('matrix-overrides-data');
+            const rolesData = rolesEl ? JSON.parse(rolesEl.textContent || '{{}}') : {{}};
+            let currentOverrides = overridesEl ? JSON.parse(overridesEl.textContent || '{{}}') : {{}};
+
+            function getSelectedRoleId() {{
+                const roleSelect = document.querySelector('select[name="role"]');
+                return roleSelect ? roleSelect.value : null;
+            }}
+
+            function updateUI() {{
+                const roleId = getSelectedRoleId();
+                const activeRolePerms = (roleId && rolesData[roleId]) ? rolesData[roleId] : {{}};
+                const hiddenInput = document.getElementById('id_{escape(name)}');
+
+                document.querySelectorAll('.matrix-perm-row').forEach(row => {{
+                    const permName = row.dataset.permName;
+                    const statusLabel = row.querySelector('.perm-status-label');
+                    const btnGroup = row.querySelector('.perm-btn-group');
+                    if (!btnGroup) return;
+                    const inheritBtn = btnGroup.querySelector('.perm-btn-inherit');
+                    const allowBtn = btnGroup.querySelector('.perm-btn-allow');
+                    const denyBtn = btnGroup.querySelector('.perm-btn-deny');
+
+                    [inheritBtn, allowBtn, denyBtn].forEach(b => {{
+                        if (b) b.className = 'px-2 py-1 rounded-md text-[11px] font-medium transition-all perm-btn text-slate-600 dark:text-slate-400';
+                    }});
+
+                    const roleDefault = !!activeRolePerms[permName];
+                    const hasOverride = currentOverrides.hasOwnProperty(permName);
+                    const overrideVal = hasOverride ? currentOverrides[permName] : null;
+
+                    if (overrideVal === true) {{
+                        if (allowBtn) allowBtn.className = 'px-2 py-1 rounded-md text-[11px] font-bold transition-all perm-btn bg-green-600 text-white shadow-xs';
+                        if (statusLabel) statusLabel.innerHTML = '<span class="text-green-600 dark:text-green-400 font-medium">✓ Force Allowed (Override)</span>';
+                    }} else if (overrideVal === false) {{
+                        if (denyBtn) denyBtn.className = 'px-2 py-1 rounded-md text-[11px] font-bold transition-all perm-btn bg-red-600 text-white shadow-xs';
+                        if (statusLabel) statusLabel.innerHTML = '<span class="text-red-600 dark:text-red-400 font-medium">✕ Force Denied (Override)</span>';
+                    }} else {{
+                        if (inheritBtn) inheritBtn.className = 'px-2 py-1 rounded-md text-[11px] font-medium transition-all perm-btn bg-white dark:bg-slate-700 text-slate-800 dark:text-slate-100 shadow-xs';
+                        if (statusLabel) {{
+                            if (roleDefault) {{
+                                statusLabel.innerHTML = '<span class="text-indigo-600 dark:text-indigo-400 font-medium">● Inherited: Granted by Role</span>';
+                            }} else {{
+                                statusLabel.innerHTML = '<span class="text-slate-400">○ Inherited: Denied by Role</span>';
+                            }}
+                        }}
+                    }}
+                }});
+
+                // Update category custom override counts
+                document.querySelectorAll('.matrix-category-card').forEach(card => {{
+                    let catOverrides = 0;
+                    card.querySelectorAll('.matrix-perm-row').forEach(r => {{
+                        const p = r.dataset.permName;
+                        if (currentOverrides.hasOwnProperty(p) && currentOverrides[p] !== null) {{
+                            catOverrides++;
+                        }}
+                    }});
+                    const badge = card.querySelector('.cat-override-badge');
+                    if (badge) {{
+                        if (catOverrides > 0) {{
+                            badge.textContent = catOverrides + ' custom';
+                            badge.classList.remove('hidden');
+                        }} else {{
+                            badge.classList.add('hidden');
+                        }}
+                    }}
+                }});
+
+                if (hiddenInput) {{
+                    hiddenInput.value = JSON.stringify(currentOverrides);
+                }}
+            }}
+
+            document.addEventListener('click', function(e) {{
+                const btn = e.target.closest('.perm-btn');
+                if (btn) {{
+                    const row = btn.closest('.matrix-perm-row');
+                    if (!row) return;
+                    const permName = row.dataset.permName;
+                    const val = btn.dataset.val;
+
+                    if (val === 'inherit') {{
+                        delete currentOverrides[permName];
+                    }} else if (val === 'allow') {{
+                        currentOverrides[permName] = true;
+                    }} else if (val === 'deny') {{
+                        currentOverrides[permName] = false;
+                    }}
+
+                    updateUI();
+                    return;
+                }}
+
+                const catHeader = e.target.closest('.matrix-cat-header');
+                if (catHeader) {{
+                    const card = catHeader.closest('.matrix-category-card');
+                    if (!card) return;
+                    const body = card.querySelector('.matrix-cat-body');
+                    const chevron = catHeader.querySelector('.cat-chevron');
+                    if (body) {{
+                        const isHidden = body.classList.toggle('hidden');
+                        if (chevron) {{
+                            chevron.style.transform = isHidden ? 'rotate(0deg)' : 'rotate(180deg)';
+                        }}
+                    }}
+                    return;
+                }}
+
+                if (e.target && e.target.id === 'matrix-collapse-all-btn') {{
+                    const bodies = document.querySelectorAll('.matrix-cat-body');
+                    const chevrons = document.querySelectorAll('.cat-chevron');
+                    const firstHidden = bodies.length > 0 && bodies[0].classList.contains('hidden');
+                    bodies.forEach(b => {{
+                        if (firstHidden) {{
+                            b.classList.remove('hidden');
+                        }} else {{
+                            b.classList.add('hidden');
+                        }}
+                    }});
+                    chevrons.forEach(ch => {{
+                        ch.style.transform = firstHidden ? 'rotate(180deg)' : 'rotate(0deg)';
+                    }});
+                    return;
+                }}
+            }});
+
+            const searchInput = document.getElementById('matrix-search-input');
+            if (searchInput) {{
+                searchInput.addEventListener('input', function() {{
+                    const q = this.value.toLowerCase().trim();
+                    document.querySelectorAll('.matrix-perm-row').forEach(row => {{
+                        const text = row.textContent.toLowerCase();
+                        row.style.display = text.includes(q) ? 'flex' : 'none';
+                    }});
+                    document.querySelectorAll('.matrix-category-card').forEach(card => {{
+                        const visibleRows = card.querySelectorAll('.matrix-perm-row:not([style*="display: none"])');
+                        card.style.display = visibleRows.length > 0 ? 'block' : 'none';
+                        const body = card.querySelector('.matrix-cat-body');
+                        if (q && body) {{
+                            body.classList.remove('hidden');
+                        }}
+                    }});
+                }});
+            }}
+
+            const roleSelect = document.querySelector('select[name="role"]');
+            if (roleSelect) {{
+                roleSelect.addEventListener('change', updateUI);
+            }}
+
+            if (document.readyState === 'loading') {{
+                document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', updateUI);
+            }} else {{
+                updateUI();
+            }}
+            window.addEventListener('load', function() {{
+                setTimeout(updateUI, 100);
+            }});
+        }})();
+        </script>
+        ''')
+
+        return mark_safe('\n'.join(html_parts))