RJ Laravel Admin · round 2, from 2b

Which one: 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b? Or say your call for 4b. Every option keeps 2b's density, a navy menu, the white header and the tape.

Recommended: 4b · The one answer that still works at thumbnail size: the white header runs the full width over the navy menu, so the top-left corner (where the eye lands) is white with RJ HQ in it, while DTC's is navy. Navy sidebar, white header and tape all stay; collapse it and there is very little navy left.

Which panel am I on?

Each option as it opens, shrunk to a thumbnail, beside the DTC admin. Same data, same page. The one you can tell from DTC at this size is the one that works when you switch tabs.

DTC at a glance
DTCcontrol
1a at a glance
1asteel navy #1D3156
1b at a glance
1bink-blue #0D1B40
2a at a glance
2a56px icon rail · flyout labels
2b at a glance
2b76px labelled rail
3a at a glance
3achalk tick
3b at a glance
3bchalk band
4a at a glance
4asteel block
4b at a glance
4bwhite block · joins the header

DTC · Satin Lapel (control)

The DTC admin as shipped, same data. It has no collapsed state.

DTC ordersDTC phone

1 · Steel Navy

The sidebar moves within the navy family to a matte steel navy, so the master admin reads bluer than DTC's satin ink at a glance. Everything else is 2b.

Sidebar hue shifted within navy (sibling, not a new colour)Matte sidebar: the satin bloom is DTC's, so it goesCollapsible: 232px menu ↔ 56px icon rail; opens expandeda / b · Sidebar navy: a = steel, lighter and bluer (#1D3156) · b = ink-blue, DTC's depth but more saturated (#0D1B40)
1a Orders · menu expanded1a Orders · menu collapsed1a Orders · phone 390
1b Orders · menu expanded1b Orders · menu collapsed1b Orders · phone 390

2 · HQ Rail

Collapsed by default: a narrow navy rail under a steel HQ tile; labels fly out on hover and the full menu pins open with ⌘B. Less navy on screen, and the shape alone says 'not DTC'.

Default state = collapsed icon rail (DTC is always expanded)Steel HQ tile heads the rail and the menuHover flyouts carry the labels and the group childrena / b · Rail form: a = 56px icon rail, labels in flyouts · b = 76px rail with a small label under each icon
2a Orders · menu expanded2a Orders · menu collapsed2a Orders · phone 390
2b Orders · menu expanded2b Orders · menu collapsed2b Orders · phone 390

3 · Tailor's Rule

The tape measure moves onto the navy: a ruler runs down the sidebar's edge and the active item is marked off it in chalk blue.

Tape ruler down the sidebar's right edge, in both statesChalk blue #A9C8F2 for the active item, sibling of the steelCollapsible: 232px menu ↔ 56px icon rail; opens expandeda / b · Active marker: a = a chalk tick off the ruler, no fill · b = a chalk band with a chalk rail
3a Orders · menu expanded3a Orders · menu collapsed3a Orders · phone 390
3b Orders · menu expanded3b Orders · menu collapsed3b Orders · phone 390

4 · HQ Lockup

The top of the sidebar becomes a lighter brand block with an RJ HQ lockup, aligned to the header; the navy nav sits under it.

Brand block the height of the header, lighter than the navyRJ HQ lockup + 'Master admin' (DTC shows 'RJ Admin · Workspace' + switcher)Collapsible: the block shrinks to an RJ tile over the 56px raila / b · Brand block: a = steel block (#2C4B86) · b = white block that joins the white header into one bar
4a Orders · menu expanded4a Orders · menu collapsed4a Orders · phone 390
4b Orders · menu expanded4b Orders · menu collapsed4b Orders · phone 390

Each row: Orders with the menu expanded · the same page with the menu collapsed · phone 390. Data and menu are round 1's (mock API shapes, the live orders-role menu: no badges, no role chip). Click a shot for the live frame.