diff --git a/briar-android/res/layout/fragment_forum_list.xml b/briar-android/res/layout/fragment_forum_list.xml
index c823c26c1b5b3dc6a764ab3e4aa724a4fe14d5a0..31d90c085f9ea01aa62fb3094cdbf01689bda2df 100644
--- a/briar-android/res/layout/fragment_forum_list.xml
+++ b/briar-android/res/layout/fragment_forum_list.xml
@@ -1,6 +1,16 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
-<org.briarproject.android.util.BriarRecyclerView
-	android:id="@+id/forumList"
+<android.support.design.widget.CoordinatorLayout
+	android:id="@+id/coordinatorLayout"
 	xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+	xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
 	android:layout_width="match_parent"
-	android:layout_height="match_parent"/>
+	android:layout_height="match_parent">
+
+	<org.briarproject.android.util.BriarRecyclerView
+		android:id="@+id/forumList"
+		xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+		android:layout_width="match_parent"
+		android:layout_height="match_parent"
+		app:layout_behavior="org.briarproject.android.util.BriarRecyclerViewBehavior"/>
+
+</android.support.design.widget.CoordinatorLayout>
diff --git a/briar-android/res/layout/list_item_forum.xml b/briar-android/res/layout/list_item_forum.xml
index 8462c1cd68748749b5649af3a404166f256200f4..b513972e1150604698108435cbb43aef8633cd75 100644
--- a/briar-android/res/layout/list_item_forum.xml
+++ b/briar-android/res/layout/list_item_forum.xml
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <RelativeLayout
 	xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+	xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
 	xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
 	android:layout_width="match_parent"
 	android:layout_height="wrap_content"
@@ -9,6 +10,15 @@
 	android:paddingTop="@dimen/listitem_horizontal_margin"
 	android:background="?attr/selectableItemBackground">
 
+	<org.briarproject.android.util.TextAvatarView
+		android:id="@+id/avatarView"
+		android:layout_height="@dimen/avatar_forum_size"
+		android:layout_width="@dimen/avatar_forum_size"
+		android:layout_marginRight="@dimen/listitem_horizontal_margin"
+		android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
+		android:layout_alignParentStart="true"
+		/>
+
 	<TextView
 		android:id="@+id/forumNameView"
 		android:layout_width="wrap_content"
@@ -16,21 +26,23 @@
 		android:maxLines="2"
 		android:textColor="@color/briar_text_primary"
 		android:textSize="@dimen/text_size_medium"
-		tools:text="This is a name of a forum"/>
+		tools:text="This is a name of a forum"
+		android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
+		android:layout_toRightOf="@+id/avatarView"
+		android:layout_toEndOf="@+id/avatarView"/>
 
 	<TextView
 		android:id="@+id/unreadView"
 		android:layout_width="wrap_content"
 		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-		android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
-		android:layout_alignParentStart="true"
-		android:layout_below="@+id/forumNameView"
-		android:layout_toLeftOf="@+id/dateView"
 		android:paddingTop="@dimen/margin_medium"
 		android:paddingBottom="@dimen/listitem_horizontal_margin"
 		android:textColor="@color/briar_text_secondary"
 		android:textSize="@dimen/text_size_small"
-		android:text="@string/no_unread_posts"/>
+		android:text="@string/no_unread_posts"
+		android:layout_below="@+id/forumNameView"
+		android:layout_toRightOf="@+id/avatarView"
+		android:layout_toEndOf="@+id/avatarView"/>
 
 	<TextView
 		android:id="@+id/dateView"
diff --git a/briar-android/res/layout/text_avatar_view.xml b/briar-android/res/layout/text_avatar_view.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..a154d9d4a1f810996677cafd3fc5bd8754713d73
--- /dev/null
+++ b/briar-android/res/layout/text_avatar_view.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<merge
+	xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+	xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
+	xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto">
+
+	<de.hdodenhof.circleimageview.CircleImageView
+		android:id="@+id/avatarBackground"
+		android:layout_width="@dimen/avatar_forum_size"
+		android:layout_height="@dimen/avatar_forum_size"
+		android:layout_gravity="center"
+		android:src="@android:color/transparent"
+		app:civ_fill_color="@color/briar_button_positive"
+		app:civ_border_color="@color/briar_primary"
+		app:civ_border_width="@dimen/avatar_border_width"/>
+
+	<android.support.v7.widget.AppCompatTextView
+		android:id="@+id/textAvatarView"
+		android:layout_width="wrap_content"
+		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+		android:layout_gravity="center"
+		android:maxLength="1"
+		android:shadowColor="@color/forum_avatar_shadow"
+		android:shadowDx="0"
+		android:shadowDy="1.5"
+		android:shadowRadius="1.5"
+		android:textColor="@color/briar_text_primary_inverse"
+		android:textSize="30sp"
+		tools:text="T"/>
+
+</merge>
+
diff --git a/briar-android/res/values/color.xml b/briar-android/res/values/color.xml
index 9113861d7f84f3126b4cccfd6846d6d63822bd0e..7fa718ebda375ea5f5eea125634f407c5d732e81 100644
--- a/briar-android/res/values/color.xml
+++ b/briar-android/res/values/color.xml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 	<color name="horizontal_border">#CCCCCC</color>
 	<color name="forums_available_background">@color/briar_gold</color>
 	<color name="no_private_messages">#AAAAAA</color>
-	<color name="no_posts">#AAAAAA</color>
+	<color name="forum_avatar_shadow">#b3b3b3</color>
 
 	<color name="briar_primary">@color/briar_blue</color>
 	<color name="briar_primary_dark">@color/briar_blue_dark</color>
diff --git a/briar-android/res/values/dimens.xml b/briar-android/res/values/dimens.xml
index 7e3b8d807f7cdd8909cfe4c02b513bae007824cf..a1e8fcf352b2b502b4fee3d55ab04198515b4cfb 100644
--- a/briar-android/res/values/dimens.xml
+++ b/briar-android/res/values/dimens.xml
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 	<dimen name="listitem_picture_size">48dp</dimen>
 	<dimen name="listitem_selectable_picture_size">40dp</dimen>
 	<dimen name="dropdown_picture_size">32dp</dimen>
+	<dimen name="avatar_forum_size">48dp</dimen>
 	<dimen name="avatar_border_width">1dp</dimen>
 
 	<dimen name="message_bubble_margin_tail">14dp</dimen>
diff --git a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/forum/ForumListAdapter.java b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/forum/ForumListAdapter.java
index 9054bed9bfb39d0e4fc13549ecbaae56fdf3e83b..d6bb184541af7428786109681a50c535a55faef6 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/forum/ForumListAdapter.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/forum/ForumListAdapter.java
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import android.view.ViewGroup;
 import android.widget.TextView;
 
 import org.briarproject.R;
+import org.briarproject.android.util.TextAvatarView;
 import org.briarproject.api.forum.Forum;
 import org.briarproject.api.sync.GroupId;
 
@@ -91,6 +92,8 @@ public class ForumListAdapter extends
 		final ForumListItem item = getItem(position);
 
 		// TODO add avatar. See #337
+		ui.avatar.setText(item.getForum().getName().substring(0, 1));
+		ui.avatar.setBackgroundBytes(item.getForum().getId().getBytes());
 
 		// Forum Name
 		ui.name.setText(item.getForum().getName());
@@ -176,6 +179,7 @@ public class ForumListAdapter extends
 	protected static class ForumViewHolder extends RecyclerView.ViewHolder {
 
 		private final ViewGroup layout;
+		private final TextAvatarView avatar;
 		private final TextView name;
 		private final TextView unread;
 		private final TextView date;
@@ -184,6 +188,7 @@ public class ForumListAdapter extends
 			super(v);
 
 			layout = (ViewGroup) v;
+			avatar = (TextAvatarView) v.findViewById(R.id.avatarView);
 			name = (TextView) v.findViewById(R.id.forumNameView);
 			unread = (TextView) v.findViewById(R.id.unreadView);
 			date = (TextView) v.findViewById(R.id.dateView);
diff --git a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/forum/ForumListFragment.java b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/forum/ForumListFragment.java
index 1f35e55f0560de75c3ca3f44847e859e4623c013..e6f0f6a26685e7feee22c25e8be0a15a322dbe2a 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/forum/ForumListFragment.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/forum/ForumListFragment.java
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ public class ForumListFragment extends BaseEventFragment implements
 		list.setAdapter(adapter);
 		list.setEmptyText(getString(R.string.no_forums));
 
-		snackbar = Snackbar.make(contentView, "", LENGTH_INDEFINITE);
+		snackbar = Snackbar.make(list, "", LENGTH_INDEFINITE);
 		snackbar.getView().setBackgroundResource(R.color.briar_primary);
 		snackbar.setAction(R.string.show_forums, this);
 		snackbar.setActionTextColor(ContextCompat
diff --git a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/util/BriarRecyclerViewBehavior.java b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/util/BriarRecyclerViewBehavior.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..fc57a27f0f300b519bd2ae094587597350c71a83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/util/BriarRecyclerViewBehavior.java
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+package org.briarproject.android.util;
+
+import android.content.Context;
+import android.support.design.widget.CoordinatorLayout;
+import android.support.design.widget.Snackbar;
+import android.util.AttributeSet;
+import android.view.View;
+
+public class BriarRecyclerViewBehavior
+		extends CoordinatorLayout.Behavior<BriarRecyclerView> {
+
+	public BriarRecyclerViewBehavior(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
+		super(context, attrs);
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public boolean onDependentViewChanged(CoordinatorLayout parent,
+			BriarRecyclerView child, View dependency) {
+
+		// FIXME the below code works, but does not reset margin when snackbar is dismissed
+/*
+		int margin = 0;
+		if (dependency.isShown()) margin = dependency.getHeight();
+
+		// set snackbar height as bottom margin if it is shown
+		CoordinatorLayout.LayoutParams params =
+				(CoordinatorLayout.LayoutParams) child.getLayoutParams();
+		params.setMargins(0, 0, 0, margin);
+		child.setLayoutParams(params);
+
+		child.scrollToPosition(0);
+*/
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public boolean layoutDependsOn(CoordinatorLayout parent,
+			BriarRecyclerView child, View dependency) {
+		// we only want to trigger the change
+		// only when the changes is from a snackbar
+		return dependency instanceof Snackbar.SnackbarLayout;
+	}
+
+}
diff --git a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/util/TextAvatarView.java b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/util/TextAvatarView.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..721fc5e91c28d83ea348cc4914b4d96600659c2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/util/TextAvatarView.java
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+package org.briarproject.android.util;
+
+import android.content.Context;
+import android.content.res.ColorStateList;
+import android.graphics.Color;
+import android.graphics.PorterDuff;
+import android.support.v7.widget.AppCompatTextView;
+import android.util.AttributeSet;
+import android.view.LayoutInflater;
+import android.widget.FrameLayout;
+
+import org.briarproject.R;
+
+import de.hdodenhof.circleimageview.CircleImageView;
+
+public class TextAvatarView extends FrameLayout {
+
+	final private AppCompatTextView textView;
+	final private CircleImageView backgroundView;
+
+	public TextAvatarView(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
+		super(context, attrs);
+
+		LayoutInflater inflater = (LayoutInflater) context
+				.getSystemService(Context.LAYOUT_INFLATER_SERVICE);
+		inflater
+				.inflate(R.layout.text_avatar_view, this, true);
+		textView = (AppCompatTextView) findViewById(R.id.textAvatarView);
+		backgroundView = (CircleImageView) findViewById(R.id.avatarBackground);
+	}
+
+	public TextAvatarView(Context context) {
+		this(context, null);
+	}
+
+	public void setText(String text) {
+		textView.setText(text);
+	}
+
+	public void setBackgroundBytes(byte[] bytes) {
+		int r = getByte(bytes, 0) * 3 / 4 + 96;
+		int g = getByte(bytes, 1) * 3 / 4 + 96;
+		int b = getByte(bytes, 2) * 3 / 4 + 96;
+		int color = Color.rgb(r, g, b);
+
+		backgroundView.setFillColor(color);
+	}
+
+	private byte getByte(byte[] bytes, int index) {
+		if (bytes == null) {
+			return -128;
+		} else {
+			return bytes[index % bytes.length];
+		}
+	}
+
+}