A system provides interaction between graphical objects and a managing application by detecting that movement of a first graphical object relative to a second graphical object on the graphical user interface is within a spatial proximity. In response to the detection of movement, the system notifies the first graphical object of presence information related to the second graphical object. The presence information includes at least an identity of the second graphical object. The system forms an association between the first graphical object and the second graphical object based on the presence information, and then graphically alters a representation of at least one of the first graphical object and the second graphical object on the graphical user interface in response to the formation of the association with each other.