diff --git a/briar-android/res/layout/activity_create_forum.xml b/briar-android/res/layout/activity_create_forum.xml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..19c61317d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/briar-android/res/layout/activity_create_forum.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<LinearLayout
+	xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+	android:orientation="vertical"
+	android:layout_width="match_parent"
+	android:layout_height="match_parent"
+	android:gravity="center_horizontal"
+	android:background="@color/conversation_background"
+	android:padding="20dp" >
+
+	<TextView
+		android:layout_width="wrap_content"
+		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+		android:gravity="center"
+		android:textSize="@dimen/text_size_medium"
+		android:text="@string/choose_forum_name" />
+
+	<EditText
+		android:layout_width="match_parent"
+		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+		android:id="@+id/createForumNameEntry"
+		android:maxLines="1"
+		android:inputType="text|textCapSentences" />
+
+	<TextView
+		android:layout_width="wrap_content"
+		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+		android:id="@+id/createForumFeedback"
+		android:gravity="center"
+		android:paddingLeft="50dp"
+		android:paddingRight="50dp" />
+
+	<Button
+		style="@style/BriarButton"
+		android:id="@+id/createForumButton"
+		android:layout_width="wrap_content"
+		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+		android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
+		android:text="@string/create_forum_button" />
+
+	<ProgressBar
+		android:id="@+id/createForumProgressBar"
+		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+		android:layout_width="wrap_content"
+		android:indeterminate="true"
+		android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
+		android:visibility="gone" />
+
+
+</LinearLayout>
diff --git a/briar-android/res/layout/splash.xml b/briar-android/res/layout/splash.xml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c7b171adb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/briar-android/res/layout/splash.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<RelativeLayout
+	xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+	android:layout_width="match_parent"
+	android:layout_height="match_parent"
+	android:background="#FFFFFF" >
+
+	<ImageView
+		android:src="@drawable/briar_logo_large"
+		android:layout_width="wrap_content"
+		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+		android:layout_centerInParent="true" 
+		android:layout_margin="@dimen/margin_xxlarge" />
+
+</RelativeLayout>
diff --git a/briar-android/res/values/dimens.xml b/briar-android/res/values/dimens.xml
index b1985532c..c3085212c 100644
--- a/briar-android/res/values/dimens.xml
+++ b/briar-android/res/values/dimens.xml
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 	<dimen name="margin_medium">8dp</dimen>
 	<dimen name="margin_large">16dp</dimen>
 	<dimen name="margin_xlarge">32dp</dimen>
+	<dimen name="margin_xxlarge">64dp</dimen>
 
 	<!-- v2 dimens -->
 	<dimen name="text_size_tiny">12sp</dimen>
diff --git a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/SplashScreenActivity.java b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/SplashScreenActivity.java
index 5e34e5a4d..20a6d59fa 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/SplashScreenActivity.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/SplashScreenActivity.java
@@ -45,21 +45,9 @@ public class SplashScreenActivity extends BaseActivity {
 	public void onCreate(Bundle state) {
 		super.onCreate(state);
 
-		LinearLayout layout = new LinearLayout(this);
-		layout.setLayoutParams(MATCH_MATCH);
-		layout.setGravity(CENTER);
-		layout.setBackgroundColor(Color.WHITE);
-
-		int pad = LayoutUtils.getLargeItemPadding(this);
-
-		ImageView logo = new ImageView(this);
-		logo.setPadding(pad, pad, pad, pad);
-		logo.setImageResource(R.drawable.briar_logo_large);
-		layout.addView(logo);
-
 		setPreferencesDefaults();
 
-		setContentView(layout);
+		setContentView(R.layout.splash);
 
 		new Handler().postDelayed(new Runnable() {
 			@Override
diff --git a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/forum/CreateForumActivity.java b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/forum/CreateForumActivity.java
index ac5d79068..2a9d54cdf 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/forum/CreateForumActivity.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/forum/CreateForumActivity.java
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ import java.util.logging.Logger;
 
 import javax.inject.Inject;
 
+import android.text.TextWatcher;
+import android.text.Editable;
+
 import static android.text.InputType.TYPE_CLASS_TEXT;
 import static android.text.InputType.TYPE_TEXT_FLAG_CAP_SENTENCES;
 import static android.view.Gravity.CENTER;
@@ -58,50 +61,34 @@ implements OnEditorActionListener, OnClickListener {
 	@Override
 	public void onCreate(Bundle state) {
 		super.onCreate(state);
-		LinearLayout layout = new LinearLayout(this);
-		layout.setLayoutParams(MATCH_MATCH);
-		layout.setOrientation(VERTICAL);
-		layout.setGravity(CENTER_HORIZONTAL);
-		int pad = LayoutUtils.getPadding(this);
-		layout.setPadding(pad, pad, pad, pad);
 
-		TextView chooseName = new TextView(this);
-		chooseName.setGravity(CENTER);
-		chooseName.setTextSize(18);
-		chooseName.setText(R.string.choose_forum_name);
-		layout.addView(chooseName);
+		setContentView(R.layout.activity_create_forum);
+
+		nameEntry = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.createForumNameEntry);
+		TextWatcher nameEntryWatcher = new TextWatcher() {
 
-		nameEntry = new EditText(this) {
 			@Override
-			protected void onTextChanged(CharSequence text, int start,
+			public void afterTextChanged(Editable s) {}
+
+			@Override
+			public void beforeTextChanged(CharSequence s, int start, int count, int after) {}
+
+			@Override
+			public void onTextChanged(CharSequence text, int start,
 					int lengthBefore, int lengthAfter) {
 				enableOrDisableCreateButton();
 			}
 		};
-		nameEntry.setId(1);
-		nameEntry.setMaxLines(1);
-		nameEntry.setInputType(TYPE_CLASS_TEXT | TYPE_TEXT_FLAG_CAP_SENTENCES);
 		nameEntry.setOnEditorActionListener(this);
-		layout.addView(nameEntry);
+		nameEntry.addTextChangedListener(nameEntryWatcher);
 
-		feedback = new TextView(this);
-		feedback.setGravity(CENTER);
-		feedback.setPadding(0, pad, 0, pad);
-		layout.addView(feedback);
+		feedback = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.createForumFeedback);
 
-		createForumButton = new Button(this);
-		createForumButton.setLayoutParams(WRAP_WRAP);
-		createForumButton.setText(R.string.create_forum_button);
+		createForumButton = (Button) findViewById(R.id.createForumButton);
 		createForumButton.setOnClickListener(this);
-		layout.addView(createForumButton);
 
-		progress = new ProgressBar(this);
-		progress.setLayoutParams(WRAP_WRAP);
-		progress.setIndeterminate(true);
-		progress.setVisibility(GONE);
-		layout.addView(progress);
+		progress = (ProgressBar) findViewById(R.id.createForumProgressBar);
 
-		setContentView(layout);
 	}
 
 	@Override