diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt.user b/CMakeLists.txt.user
index ab32e35..722f02f 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt.user
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt.user
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <!DOCTYPE QtCreatorProject>
-<!-- Written by QtCreator 16.0.2, 2026-01-28T08:56:09. -->
+<!-- Written by QtCreator 16.0.2, 2026-01-29T11:43:03. -->
 <qtcreator>
  <data>
   <variable>EnvironmentId</variable>
@@ -106,15 +106,15 @@
     <value type="int" key="CMake.Configure.BaseEnvironment">2</value>
     <value type="bool" key="CMake.Configure.ClearSystemEnvironment">false</value>
     <valuelist type="QVariantList" key="CMake.Configure.UserEnvironmentChanges"/>
-    <value type="QString" key="CMake.Initial.Parameters">-DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH:PATH=%{Qt:QT_INSTALL_PREFIX}
--DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_INIT:STRING=%{Qt:QML_DEBUG_FLAG}
+    <value type="QString" key="CMake.Initial.Parameters">-DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER:FILEPATH=%{Compiler:Executable:Cxx}
 -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE:STRING=Debug
--DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER:FILEPATH=%{Compiler:Executable:Cxx}
--DCMAKE_PROJECT_INCLUDE_BEFORE:FILEPATH=%{BuildConfig:BuildDirectory:NativeFilePath}/.qtc/package-manager/auto-setup.cmake
--DQT_QMAKE_EXECUTABLE:FILEPATH=%{Qt:qmakeExecutable}
--DCMAKE_COLOR_DIAGNOSTICS:BOOL=ON
+-DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_INIT:STRING=%{Qt:QML_DEBUG_FLAG}
+-DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH:PATH=%{Qt:QT_INSTALL_PREFIX}
 -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER:FILEPATH=%{Compiler:Executable:C}
--DCMAKE_GENERATOR:STRING=Ninja</value>
+-DCMAKE_COLOR_DIAGNOSTICS:BOOL=ON
+-DCMAKE_PROJECT_INCLUDE_BEFORE:FILEPATH=%{BuildConfig:BuildDirectory:NativeFilePath}/.qtc/package-manager/auto-setup.cmake
+-DCMAKE_GENERATOR:STRING=Ninja
+-DQT_QMAKE_EXECUTABLE:FILEPATH=%{Qt:qmakeExecutable}</value>
     <value type="int" key="EnableQmlDebugging">0</value>
     <value type="QString" key="ProjectExplorer.BuildConfiguration.BuildDirectory">/Users/talksik/Documents/code/llink/build/Qt_6_8_6_for_macOS-Debug</value>
     <valuemap type="QVariantMap" key="ProjectExplorer.BuildConfiguration.BuildStepList.0">
@@ -164,15 +164,15 @@
     <value type="int" key="CMake.Configure.BaseEnvironment">2</value>
     <value type="bool" key="CMake.Configure.ClearSystemEnvironment">false</value>
     <valuelist type="QVariantList" key="CMake.Configure.UserEnvironmentChanges"/>
-    <value type="QString" key="CMake.Initial.Parameters">-DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH:PATH=%{Qt:QT_INSTALL_PREFIX}
--DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_INIT:STRING=%{Qt:QML_DEBUG_FLAG}
+    <value type="QString" key="CMake.Initial.Parameters">-DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER:FILEPATH=%{Compiler:Executable:Cxx}
 -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE:STRING=Release
--DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER:FILEPATH=%{Compiler:Executable:Cxx}
--DCMAKE_PROJECT_INCLUDE_BEFORE:FILEPATH=%{BuildConfig:BuildDirectory:NativeFilePath}/.qtc/package-manager/auto-setup.cmake
--DQT_QMAKE_EXECUTABLE:FILEPATH=%{Qt:qmakeExecutable}
--DCMAKE_COLOR_DIAGNOSTICS:BOOL=ON
+-DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_INIT:STRING=%{Qt:QML_DEBUG_FLAG}
+-DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH:PATH=%{Qt:QT_INSTALL_PREFIX}
 -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER:FILEPATH=%{Compiler:Executable:C}
--DCMAKE_GENERATOR:STRING=Ninja</value>
+-DCMAKE_COLOR_DIAGNOSTICS:BOOL=ON
+-DCMAKE_PROJECT_INCLUDE_BEFORE:FILEPATH=%{BuildConfig:BuildDirectory:NativeFilePath}/.qtc/package-manager/auto-setup.cmake
+-DCMAKE_GENERATOR:STRING=Ninja
+-DQT_QMAKE_EXECUTABLE:FILEPATH=%{Qt:qmakeExecutable}</value>
     <value type="QString" key="ProjectExplorer.BuildConfiguration.BuildDirectory">/Users/talksik/Documents/code/llink/build/Qt_6_8_6_for_macOS-Release</value>
     <valuemap type="QVariantMap" key="ProjectExplorer.BuildConfiguration.BuildStepList.0">
      <valuemap type="QVariantMap" key="ProjectExplorer.BuildStepList.Step.0">
@@ -219,15 +219,15 @@
     <value type="int" key="CMake.Configure.BaseEnvironment">2</value>
     <value type="bool" key="CMake.Configure.ClearSystemEnvironment">false</value>
     <valuelist type="QVariantList" key="CMake.Configure.UserEnvironmentChanges"/>
-    <value type="QString" key="CMake.Initial.Parameters">-DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH:PATH=%{Qt:QT_INSTALL_PREFIX}
--DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_INIT:STRING=%{Qt:QML_DEBUG_FLAG}
+    <value type="QString" key="CMake.Initial.Parameters">-DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER:FILEPATH=%{Compiler:Executable:Cxx}
 -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE:STRING=RelWithDebInfo
--DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER:FILEPATH=%{Compiler:Executable:Cxx}
--DCMAKE_PROJECT_INCLUDE_BEFORE:FILEPATH=%{BuildConfig:BuildDirectory:NativeFilePath}/.qtc/package-manager/auto-setup.cmake
--DQT_QMAKE_EXECUTABLE:FILEPATH=%{Qt:qmakeExecutable}
--DCMAKE_COLOR_DIAGNOSTICS:BOOL=ON
+-DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_INIT:STRING=%{Qt:QML_DEBUG_FLAG}
+-DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH:PATH=%{Qt:QT_INSTALL_PREFIX}
 -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER:FILEPATH=%{Compiler:Executable:C}
--DCMAKE_GENERATOR:STRING=Ninja</value>
+-DCMAKE_COLOR_DIAGNOSTICS:BOOL=ON
+-DCMAKE_PROJECT_INCLUDE_BEFORE:FILEPATH=%{BuildConfig:BuildDirectory:NativeFilePath}/.qtc/package-manager/auto-setup.cmake
+-DCMAKE_GENERATOR:STRING=Ninja
+-DQT_QMAKE_EXECUTABLE:FILEPATH=%{Qt:qmakeExecutable}</value>
     <value type="QString" key="ProjectExplorer.BuildConfiguration.BuildDirectory">/Users/talksik/Documents/code/llink/build/Qt_6_8_6_for_macOS-RelWithDebInfo</value>
     <valuemap type="QVariantMap" key="ProjectExplorer.BuildConfiguration.BuildStepList.0">
      <valuemap type="QVariantMap" key="ProjectExplorer.BuildStepList.Step.0">
@@ -274,15 +274,15 @@
     <value type="int" key="CMake.Configure.BaseEnvironment">2</value>
     <value type="bool" key="CMake.Configure.ClearSystemEnvironment">false</value>
     <valuelist type="QVariantList" key="CMake.Configure.UserEnvironmentChanges"/>
-    <value type="QString" key="CMake.Initial.Parameters">-DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH:PATH=%{Qt:QT_INSTALL_PREFIX}
--DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_INIT:STRING=%{Qt:QML_DEBUG_FLAG}
+    <value type="QString" key="CMake.Initial.Parameters">-DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER:FILEPATH=%{Compiler:Executable:Cxx}
 -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE:STRING=RelWithDebInfo
--DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER:FILEPATH=%{Compiler:Executable:Cxx}
--DCMAKE_PROJECT_INCLUDE_BEFORE:FILEPATH=%{BuildConfig:BuildDirectory:NativeFilePath}/.qtc/package-manager/auto-setup.cmake
--DQT_QMAKE_EXECUTABLE:FILEPATH=%{Qt:qmakeExecutable}
--DCMAKE_COLOR_DIAGNOSTICS:BOOL=ON
+-DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_INIT:STRING=%{Qt:QML_DEBUG_FLAG}
+-DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH:PATH=%{Qt:QT_INSTALL_PREFIX}
 -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER:FILEPATH=%{Compiler:Executable:C}
--DCMAKE_GENERATOR:STRING=Ninja</value>
+-DCMAKE_COLOR_DIAGNOSTICS:BOOL=ON
+-DCMAKE_PROJECT_INCLUDE_BEFORE:FILEPATH=%{BuildConfig:BuildDirectory:NativeFilePath}/.qtc/package-manager/auto-setup.cmake
+-DCMAKE_GENERATOR:STRING=Ninja
+-DQT_QMAKE_EXECUTABLE:FILEPATH=%{Qt:qmakeExecutable}</value>
     <value type="int" key="EnableQmlDebugging">0</value>
     <value type="QString" key="ProjectExplorer.BuildConfiguration.BuildDirectory">/Users/talksik/Documents/code/llink/build/Qt_6_8_6_for_macOS-Profile</value>
     <valuemap type="QVariantMap" key="ProjectExplorer.BuildConfiguration.BuildStepList.0">
@@ -330,15 +330,15 @@
     <value type="int" key="CMake.Configure.BaseEnvironment">2</value>
     <value type="bool" key="CMake.Configure.ClearSystemEnvironment">false</value>
     <valuelist type="QVariantList" key="CMake.Configure.UserEnvironmentChanges"/>
-    <value type="QString" key="CMake.Initial.Parameters">-DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH:PATH=%{Qt:QT_INSTALL_PREFIX}
--DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_INIT:STRING=%{Qt:QML_DEBUG_FLAG}
+    <value type="QString" key="CMake.Initial.Parameters">-DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER:FILEPATH=%{Compiler:Executable:Cxx}
 -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE:STRING=MinSizeRel
--DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER:FILEPATH=%{Compiler:Executable:Cxx}
--DCMAKE_PROJECT_INCLUDE_BEFORE:FILEPATH=%{BuildConfig:BuildDirectory:NativeFilePath}/.qtc/package-manager/auto-setup.cmake
--DQT_QMAKE_EXECUTABLE:FILEPATH=%{Qt:qmakeExecutable}
--DCMAKE_COLOR_DIAGNOSTICS:BOOL=ON
+-DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_INIT:STRING=%{Qt:QML_DEBUG_FLAG}
+-DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH:PATH=%{Qt:QT_INSTALL_PREFIX}
 -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER:FILEPATH=%{Compiler:Executable:C}
--DCMAKE_GENERATOR:STRING=Ninja</value>
+-DCMAKE_COLOR_DIAGNOSTICS:BOOL=ON
+-DCMAKE_PROJECT_INCLUDE_BEFORE:FILEPATH=%{BuildConfig:BuildDirectory:NativeFilePath}/.qtc/package-manager/auto-setup.cmake
+-DCMAKE_GENERATOR:STRING=Ninja
+-DQT_QMAKE_EXECUTABLE:FILEPATH=%{Qt:qmakeExecutable}</value>
     <value type="QString" key="ProjectExplorer.BuildConfiguration.BuildDirectory">/Users/talksik/Documents/code/llink/build/Qt_6_8_6_for_macOS-MinSizeRel</value>
     <valuemap type="QVariantMap" key="ProjectExplorer.BuildConfiguration.BuildStepList.0">
      <valuemap type="QVariantMap" key="ProjectExplorer.BuildStepList.Step.0">
diff --git a/src/MainWindow.cpp b/src/MainWindow.cpp
index 44c893b..99cea42 100644
--- a/src/MainWindow.cpp
+++ b/src/MainWindow.cpp
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent)
   updatePingIndicator();
 
   ui->splitter->setStretchFactor(0, 1);
-  ui->splitter->setStretchFactor(1, 2);
+  ui->splitter->setStretchFactor(1, 3);
   ui->splitter->setStretchFactor(2, 1);
 
   setupModels();
@@ -186,6 +186,9 @@ void MainWindow::setupModels()
   // Connect particle selection changes
   connect(ui->particlesView->selectionModel(), &QItemSelectionModel::selectionChanged, this,
           &MainWindow::onParticleSelectionChanged);
+
+  // setup human presence list
+  ui->presenceList->addItems(QStringList{"agnes", "katie", "stephen", "viet", "anthony"});
 }
 
 void MainWindow::onTreeSelectionChanged(const QItemSelection &selected, const QItemSelection &deselected)
diff --git a/src/mainwindow.ui b/src/mainwindow.ui
index a43dc19..6d45add 100644
--- a/src/mainwindow.ui
+++ b/src/mainwindow.ui
@@ -104,19 +104,19 @@
       <widget class="QWidget" name="widget_2" native="true">
        <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout">
         <property name="spacing">
-         <number>2</number>
+         <number>5</number>
         </property>
         <property name="leftMargin">
-         <number>0</number>
+         <number>2</number>
         </property>
         <property name="topMargin">
-         <number>0</number>
+         <number>2</number>
         </property>
         <property name="rightMargin">
-         <number>0</number>
+         <number>2</number>
         </property>
         <property name="bottomMargin">
-         <number>0</number>
+         <number>2</number>
         </property>
         <item>
          <widget class="QTreeView" name="topLevelParticlesView">
@@ -159,25 +159,19 @@
        </property>
        <property name="minimumSize">
         <size>
-         <width>400</width>
+         <width>350</width>
          <height>0</height>
         </size>
        </property>
        <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_3">
         <item>
-         <widget class="QFrame" name="frame">
+         <widget class="QWidget" name="contentContainer" native="true">
           <property name="sizePolicy">
-           <sizepolicy hsizetype="Preferred" vsizetype="Preferred">
+           <sizepolicy hsizetype="Preferred" vsizetype="Expanding">
             <horstretch>0</horstretch>
-            <verstretch>2</verstretch>
+            <verstretch>3</verstretch>
            </sizepolicy>
           </property>
-          <property name="frameShape">
-           <enum>QFrame::Shape::StyledPanel</enum>
-          </property>
-          <property name="frameShadow">
-           <enum>QFrame::Shadow::Raised</enum>
-          </property>
           <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_4">
            <item>
             <widget class="QLabel" name="label">
@@ -192,6 +186,9 @@
                <pointsize>36</pointsize>
               </font>
              </property>
+             <property name="lineWidth">
+              <number>1</number>
+             </property>
              <property name="text">
               <string>&lt;html&gt;&lt;head/&gt;&lt;body&gt;&lt;p&gt;hey I'll take a look later today&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/body&gt;&lt;/html&gt;</string>
              </property>
@@ -375,13 +372,91 @@
         </item>
        </layout>
       </widget>
-      <widget class="QListView" name="particlesView">
-       <property name="sizePolicy">
-        <sizepolicy hsizetype="Expanding" vsizetype="Expanding">
-         <horstretch>0</horstretch>
-         <verstretch>0</verstretch>
-        </sizepolicy>
-       </property>
+      <widget class="QWidget" name="rightSidebar" native="true">
+       <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout">
+        <property name="spacing">
+         <number>2</number>
+        </property>
+        <property name="leftMargin">
+         <number>2</number>
+        </property>
+        <property name="topMargin">
+         <number>2</number>
+        </property>
+        <property name="rightMargin">
+         <number>2</number>
+        </property>
+        <property name="bottomMargin">
+         <number>2</number>
+        </property>
+        <item>
+         <widget class="QListView" name="particlesView">
+          <property name="sizePolicy">
+           <sizepolicy hsizetype="Expanding" vsizetype="Expanding">
+            <horstretch>0</horstretch>
+            <verstretch>2</verstretch>
+           </sizepolicy>
+          </property>
+         </widget>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <widget class="QListWidget" name="presenceList"/>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <widget class="QWidget" name="widget_5" native="true">
+          <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_3">
+           <property name="spacing">
+            <number>2</number>
+           </property>
+           <property name="leftMargin">
+            <number>0</number>
+           </property>
+           <property name="topMargin">
+            <number>0</number>
+           </property>
+           <property name="rightMargin">
+            <number>0</number>
+           </property>
+           <property name="bottomMargin">
+            <number>0</number>
+           </property>
+           <item>
+            <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_3">
+             <property name="orientation">
+              <enum>Qt::Orientation::Horizontal</enum>
+             </property>
+             <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+              <size>
+               <width>40</width>
+               <height>20</height>
+              </size>
+             </property>
+            </spacer>
+           </item>
+           <item>
+            <widget class="QToolButton" name="toolButton_7">
+             <property name="text">
+              <string>...</string>
+             </property>
+             <property name="icon">
+              <iconset theme="QIcon::ThemeIcon::ListAdd"/>
+             </property>
+            </widget>
+           </item>
+           <item>
+            <widget class="QToolButton" name="toolButton_6">
+             <property name="text">
+              <string>...</string>
+             </property>
+             <property name="icon">
+              <iconset theme="QIcon::ThemeIcon::EditClear"/>
+             </property>
+            </widget>
+           </item>
+          </layout>
+         </widget>
+        </item>
+       </layout>
       </widget>
      </widget>
     </item>