diff --git a/src/app/qt/view/QtGraphView.cpp b/src/app/qt/view/QtGraphView.cpp
index 7c286104..ea07d5a8 100644
--- a/src/app/qt/view/QtGraphView.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qt/view/QtGraphView.cpp
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 
 QtGraphView::QtGraphView(ViewLayout* viewLayout)
 	: GraphView(viewLayout)
+	, m_rebuildGraph(std::bind(&QtGraphView::doRebuildGraph, this, std::placeholders::_1, std::placeholders::_2))
+	, m_clear(std::bind(&QtGraphView::doClear, this))
 {
 }
 
@@ -45,56 +47,14 @@ void QtGraphView::initGui()
 	widget->layout()->addWidget(view);
 }
 
-std::weak_ptr<GraphNode> QtGraphView::addNode(const Vec2i& position, const std::string& name)
+void QtGraphView::rebuildGraph(const std::vector<DummyNode>& nodes, const std::vector<DummyEdge>& edges)
 {
-	QGraphicsView* view = getView();
-
-	if (view != NULL)
-	{
-		std::shared_ptr<QtGraphNode> node = std::make_shared<QtGraphNode>(position, name);
-		view->scene()->addItem(node.get());
-		node->setFlag(QGraphicsItem::ItemIsMovable);
-
-		m_nodes.push_back(node);
-
-		return node;
-	}
-	else
-	{
-		LOG_WARNING("Unable to retrieve view from widget");
-
-		return std::weak_ptr<QtGraphNode>();
-	}
+	m_rebuildGraph(nodes, edges);
 }
 
-void QtGraphView::addEdge(const std::weak_ptr<GraphNode>& owner, const std::weak_ptr<GraphNode>& target)
+void QtGraphView::clear()
 {
-	QGraphicsView* view = getView();
-
-	if (view != NULL)
-	{
-		std::shared_ptr<GraphNode> o = owner.lock();
-		std::shared_ptr<GraphNode> t = target.lock();
-
-		if (o != NULL && t != NULL)
-		{
-			std::shared_ptr<QtGraphEdge> edge = std::make_shared<QtGraphEdge>(owner, target);
-			view->scene()->addItem(edge.get());
-
-			m_edges.push_back(edge);
-
-			o->addOutEdge(edge);
-			t->addInEdge(edge);
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			LOG_WARNING("Either the owner or target node could not be locked, make sure they still exist!");
-		}
-	}
-	else
-	{
-		LOG_WARNING("Unable to retrieve view from widget");
-	}
+	m_clear();
 }
 
 QGraphicsView* QtGraphView::getView()
@@ -107,3 +67,73 @@ QGraphicsView* QtGraphView::getView()
 
 	return widget->findChild<QGraphicsView*>("");
 }
+
+void QtGraphView::doRebuildGraph(const std::vector<DummyNode>& nodes, const std::vector<DummyEdge>& edges)
+{
+	doClear();
+
+	QGraphicsView* view = getView();
+
+	if (view != NULL)
+	{
+		for(unsigned int i = 0; i < nodes.size(); i++)
+		{
+			std::shared_ptr<GraphNode> newNode = findOrCreateNode(view, nodes[i]);
+		}
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		LOG_WARNING("Failed to get QGraphicsView");
+	}
+}
+
+void QtGraphView::doClear()
+{
+	m_nodes.clear();
+	m_edges.clear();
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<GraphNode> QtGraphView::findOrCreateNode(QGraphicsView* view, const DummyNode& node)
+{
+	std::shared_ptr<GraphNode> result;
+
+	result = findNode(node);
+
+	if(result == NULL)
+	{
+		result = createNode(view, node);
+	}
+
+	return result;
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<GraphNode> QtGraphView::findNode(const DummyNode& node)
+{
+	std::list<std::shared_ptr<GraphNode>>::iterator it = m_nodes.begin();
+
+	for(it; it != m_nodes.end(); it++)
+	{
+		if((*it)->getTokenId() == node.tokenId)
+		{
+			return *it;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<GraphNode> QtGraphView::createNode(QGraphicsView* view, const DummyNode& node)
+{
+	if(view != NULL)
+	{
+		std::shared_ptr<QtGraphNode> newNode = std::make_shared<QtGraphNode>(node.position, node.name, node.tokenId);
+		view->scene()->addItem(newNode.get());
+		m_nodes.push_back(newNode);
+
+		return newNode;
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		LOG_WARNING("Received pointer to QGraphicsView was NULL. No node created.");
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/app/qt/view/QtGraphView.h b/src/app/qt/view/QtGraphView.h
index acbdd2bd..9c94f402 100644
--- a/src/app/qt/view/QtGraphView.h
+++ b/src/app/qt/view/QtGraphView.h
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 #ifndef QT_GRAPH_VIEW_H
 #define QT_GRAPH_VIEW_H
 
+#include "qt/utility/QtThreadedFunctor.h"
+
 #include "component/view/GraphView.h"
 
+struct DummyEdge;
+struct DummyNode;
 class QGraphicsView;
 
 class QtGraphView : public GraphView
@@ -15,11 +19,22 @@ public:
 	virtual void createWidgetWrapper();
 	virtual void initGui();
 
-	virtual std::weak_ptr<GraphNode> addNode(const Vec2i& position, const std::string& name);
-	virtual void addEdge(const std::weak_ptr<GraphNode>& owner, const std::weak_ptr<GraphNode>& target);
+	virtual void rebuildGraph(const std::vector<DummyNode>& nodes, const std::vector<DummyEdge>& edges);
+
+	virtual void clear();
 
 private:
 	QGraphicsView* getView();
+
+	void doRebuildGraph(const std::vector<DummyNode>& nodes, const std::vector<DummyEdge>& edges);
+	void doClear();
+
+	std::shared_ptr<GraphNode> findOrCreateNode(QGraphicsView* view, const DummyNode& node);
+	std::shared_ptr<GraphNode> findNode(const DummyNode& node);
+	std::shared_ptr<GraphNode> createNode(QGraphicsView* view, const DummyNode& node);
+
+	QtThreadedFunctor<const std::vector<DummyNode>&, const std::vector<DummyEdge>&> m_rebuildGraph;
+	QtThreadedFunctor<void> m_clear;
 };
 
 #endif // QT_GRAPH_VIEW_H
diff --git a/src/app/qt/view/graphElements/QtGraphNode.cpp b/src/app/qt/view/graphElements/QtGraphNode.cpp
index b5a071f7..4e070cb5 100644
--- a/src/app/qt/view/graphElements/QtGraphNode.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qt/view/graphElements/QtGraphNode.cpp
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@
 
 #include "qt/view/graphElements/QtGraphEdge.h"
 
-QtGraphNode::QtGraphNode(const Vec2i& position, const std::string& name)
+QtGraphNode::QtGraphNode(const Vec2i& position, const std::string& name, const Id tokenId)
+	: GraphNode(tokenId)
 {
 	this->setRect(0, 0, 100, 100);
 	this->setPos(position.x, position.y);
@@ -21,6 +22,11 @@ QtGraphNode::~QtGraphNode()
 {
 }
 
+std::string QtGraphNode::getName()
+{
+	return m_text->toPlainText().toStdString();
+}
+
 Vec2i QtGraphNode::getPosition()
 {
 	return Vec2i(this->scenePos().x(), this->scenePos().y());
@@ -53,6 +59,9 @@ void QtGraphNode::mousePressEvent(QGraphicsSceneMouseEvent *event)
 {
 	m_mouseOffset.x = event->pos().x();
 	m_mouseOffset.y = event->pos().y();
+
+	MessageActivateToken message(m_tokenId);
+	message.dispatch();
 }
 
 void QtGraphNode::mouseMoveEvent(QGraphicsSceneMouseEvent *event)
diff --git a/src/app/qt/view/graphElements/QtGraphNode.h b/src/app/qt/view/graphElements/QtGraphNode.h
index 1f14f56c..a7e9a9f7 100644
--- a/src/app/qt/view/graphElements/QtGraphNode.h
+++ b/src/app/qt/view/graphElements/QtGraphNode.h
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 #include "qgraphicsitem.h"
 
+#include "utility/messaging/type/MessageActivateToken.h"
 #include "utility/math/Vector2.h"
 
 #include "component/view/graphElements/GraphNode.h"
@@ -14,9 +15,10 @@ class QtGraphNode:
 	public QGraphicsRectItem
 {
 public:
-	QtGraphNode(const Vec2i& position, const std::string& name);
+	QtGraphNode(const Vec2i& position, const std::string& name, const Id tokenId);
 	virtual ~QtGraphNode();
 
+	virtual std::string getName();
 	virtual Vec2i getPosition();
 
 	virtual void addOutEdge(const std::shared_ptr<GraphEdge>& edge);
diff --git a/src/lib/component/ComponentManager.cpp b/src/lib/component/ComponentManager.cpp
index 3241def4..2996a3a1 100644
--- a/src/lib/component/ComponentManager.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/component/ComponentManager.cpp
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@ void ComponentManager::setup()
 	std::shared_ptr<Component> graphComponent = m_componentFactory->createGraphComponent();
 
 	GraphView* graphView = graphComponent->getView<GraphView>();
-	std::weak_ptr<GraphNode> node0 = graphView->addNode(Vec2i(-50, -50), "foo");
+	/*std::weak_ptr<GraphNode> node0 = graphView->addNode(Vec2i(-50, -50), "foo");
 	graphView->addEdge(node0, graphView->addNode(Vec2i(100, 100), "bar"));
-	graphView->addEdge(node0, graphView->addNode(Vec2i(50, -50), "war production co-ordinating commitee"));
+	graphView->addEdge(node0, graphView->addNode(Vec2i(50, -50), "war production co-ordinating commitee"));*/
 
 	m_components.push_back(graphComponent);
 
diff --git a/src/lib/component/controller/GraphController.cpp b/src/lib/component/controller/GraphController.cpp
index 97af40c4..7a493bb9 100644
--- a/src/lib/component/controller/GraphController.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/component/controller/GraphController.cpp
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 #include "component/controller/GraphController.h"
 
+#include "component/view/graphElements/GraphEdge.h"
+#include "component/view/graphElements/GraphNode.h"
 #include "component/view/GraphView.h"
 #include "data/access/GraphAccess.h"
 
 #include "utility/logging/logging.h"
 
-
 GraphController::GraphController(std::shared_ptr<GraphAccess> graphAccess)
 	: m_graphAccess(graphAccess)
 {
@@ -15,6 +16,24 @@ GraphController::~GraphController()
 {
 }
 
+void GraphController::handleMessage(MessageActivateToken* message)
+{
+	GraphView* view = getView();
+	if (view != NULL)
+	{
+		std::string name = m_graphAccess->getNameForNodeWithId(message->tokenId);
+
+		DummyNode node(name, message->tokenId, Vec2i(0,0));
+
+		std::vector<DummyNode> nodes;
+		nodes.push_back(node);
+
+		std::vector<DummyEdge> edges;
+
+		view->rebuildGraph(nodes, edges);
+	}
+}
+
 GraphView* GraphController::getView()
 {
 	return Controller::getView<GraphView>();
diff --git a/src/lib/component/controller/GraphController.h b/src/lib/component/controller/GraphController.h
index 338c0b4f..a0c17644 100644
--- a/src/lib/component/controller/GraphController.h
+++ b/src/lib/component/controller/GraphController.h
@@ -1,18 +1,24 @@
 #ifndef GRAPH_CONTROLLER_H
 #define GRAPH_CONTROLLER_H
 
+#include "utility/messaging/MessageListener.h"
+#include "utility/messaging/type/MessageActivateToken.h"
+
 #include "component/controller/Controller.h"
 
 class GraphView;
 class GraphAccess;
 
-class GraphController: public Controller
+class GraphController:
+	public Controller,
+	public MessageListener<MessageActivateToken>
 {
 public:
 	GraphController(std::shared_ptr<GraphAccess> graphAccess);
 	~GraphController();
 
 private:
+	virtual void handleMessage(MessageActivateToken* message);
 	GraphView* getView();
 
 	std::shared_ptr<GraphAccess> m_graphAccess;
diff --git a/src/lib/component/view/GraphView.h b/src/lib/component/view/GraphView.h
index 67d0e0bd..52e7a139 100644
--- a/src/lib/component/view/GraphView.h
+++ b/src/lib/component/view/GraphView.h
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 
 #include "component/view/View.h"
 
+struct DummyEdge;
+struct DummyNode;
 class GraphEdge;
 class GraphNode;
 
@@ -17,8 +19,9 @@ public:
 
 	virtual std::string getName() const;
 
-	virtual std::weak_ptr<GraphNode> addNode(const Vec2i& position, const std::string& name) = 0;
-	virtual void addEdge(const std::weak_ptr<GraphNode>& owner, const std::weak_ptr<GraphNode>& target) = 0;
+	virtual void rebuildGraph(const std::vector<DummyNode>& nodes, const std::vector<DummyEdge>& edges) = 0;
+
+	virtual void clear() = 0;
 
 protected:
 	std::list<std::shared_ptr<GraphNode> > m_nodes;
diff --git a/src/lib/component/view/graphElements/GraphEdge.h b/src/lib/component/view/graphElements/GraphEdge.h
index f5fd19f6..7f901125 100644
--- a/src/lib/component/view/graphElements/GraphEdge.h
+++ b/src/lib/component/view/graphElements/GraphEdge.h
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 #ifndef GRAPH_EDGE_H
 #define GRAPH_EDGE_H
 
+#include <memory>
+
+class GraphNode;
+
 class GraphEdge
 {
 public:
@@ -11,4 +15,18 @@ public:
 	virtual void targetMoved() = 0;
 };
 
+// temporary data structure for (visual) graph creation process
+struct DummyEdge
+{
+public:
+	DummyEdge(const std::weak_ptr<GraphNode> o, const std::weak_ptr<GraphNode> t)
+		: owner(o)
+		, target(t)
+	{
+	}
+
+	std::weak_ptr<GraphNode> owner;
+	std::weak_ptr<GraphNode> target;
+};
+
 #endif // GRAPH_EDGE_H
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/lib/component/view/graphElements/GraphNode.cpp b/src/lib/component/view/graphElements/GraphNode.cpp
index d9c8fdea..bcc33ded 100644
--- a/src/lib/component/view/graphElements/GraphNode.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/component/view/graphElements/GraphNode.cpp
@@ -1,9 +1,15 @@
 #include "component/view/graphElements/GraphNode.h"
 
-GraphNode::GraphNode()
+GraphNode::GraphNode(const Id tokenId)
+	: m_tokenId(tokenId)
 {
 }
 
 GraphNode::~GraphNode()
 {
 }
+
+Id GraphNode::getTokenId()
+{
+	return m_tokenId;
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/component/view/graphElements/GraphNode.h b/src/lib/component/view/graphElements/GraphNode.h
index b55d2125..50ea36d2 100644
--- a/src/lib/component/view/graphElements/GraphNode.h
+++ b/src/lib/component/view/graphElements/GraphNode.h
@@ -1,22 +1,47 @@
 #ifndef GRAPH_NODE_H
 #define GRAPH_NODE_H
 
+#include <memory>
+
 #include "utility/math/Vector2.h"
+#include "utility/types.h"
 
 class GraphEdge;
 
 class GraphNode
 {
 public:
-	GraphNode();
+	GraphNode(const Id tokenId);
 	virtual ~GraphNode();
 
+	virtual std::string getName() = 0;
+	Id getTokenId();
 	virtual Vec2i getPosition() = 0;
 
 	virtual void addOutEdge(const std::shared_ptr<GraphEdge>& edge) = 0;
 	virtual void addInEdge(const std::weak_ptr<GraphEdge>& edge) = 0;
 
 	virtual void removeOutEdge(const std::shared_ptr<GraphEdge>& edge) = 0;
+
+protected:
+	Id m_tokenId;
+};
+
+struct DummyNode
+{
+public:
+	DummyNode(const std::string& n, const Id tId, const Vec2i& p)
+		: name(n)
+		, tokenId(tId)
+		, position(p)
+	{
+	}
+
+	std::string name;
+	Id tokenId;
+	Vec2i position;
+
+	std::weak_ptr<GraphNode> actualNode;
 };
 
 #endif // GRAPH_NODE_H
diff --git a/src/lib/utility/math/Vector2.h b/src/lib/utility/math/Vector2.h
index 852dbcb6..6d504564 100644
--- a/src/lib/utility/math/Vector2.h
+++ b/src/lib/utility/math/Vector2.h
@@ -13,12 +13,13 @@ public:
 	Vector2();
 	Vector2(const T& x, const T& y);
 	Vector2(const VectorBase<T, 2>& vector);
+	Vector2(const Vector2<T>& vector);
 	virtual ~Vector2();
 
 	T getValue(const unsigned int index) const;
 	void setValue(const unsigned int index, const T& value);
 
-	T& operator[](const unsigned int index);
+	T operator[](const unsigned int index);
 
 	Property<T> x;
 	Property<T> y;
@@ -62,6 +63,14 @@ Vector2<T>::Vector2(const VectorBase<T, 2>& vector)
 {
 }
 
+template<class T>
+Vector2<T>::Vector2(const Vector2<T>& vector)
+	: VectorBase<T, 2>(vector)
+	, x(&VectorBase<T, 2>::m_values[m_xIndex])
+	, y(&VectorBase<T, 2>::m_values[m_yIndex])
+{
+}
+
 template<class T>
 Vector2<T>::~Vector2()
 {
@@ -95,7 +104,7 @@ void Vector2<T>::setValue(const unsigned int index, const T& value)
 }
 
 template<class T>
-T& Vector2<T>::operator[](const unsigned int index)
+T Vector2<T>::operator[](const unsigned int index)
 {
 	try
 	{
diff --git a/src/lib/utility/math/Vector4.h b/src/lib/utility/math/Vector4.h
index eb86e154..18f158ff 100644
--- a/src/lib/utility/math/Vector4.h
+++ b/src/lib/utility/math/Vector4.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ public:
 	Vector4();
 	Vector4(const T& x, const T& y, const T& z, const T& w);
 	Vector4(const VectorBase<T, 4>& vector);
+	Vector4(const Vector4<T>& vector);
 	virtual ~Vector4();
 
 	T getValue(const unsigned int index) const;
@@ -76,6 +77,16 @@ Vector4<T>::Vector4(const VectorBase<T, 4>& vector)
 {
 }
 
+template<class T>
+Vector4<T>::Vector4(const Vector4<T>& vector)
+	: VectorBase<T, 4>(vector)
+	, x(&VectorBase<T, 4>::m_values[m_xIndex])
+	, y(&VectorBase<T, 4>::m_values[m_yIndex])
+	, z(&VectorBase<T, 4>::m_values[m_zIndex])
+	, w(&VectorBase<T, 4>::m_values[m_wIndex])
+{
+}
+
 template<class T>
 Vector4<T>::~Vector4()
 {
diff --git a/src/lib/utility/math/VectorBase.h b/src/lib/utility/math/VectorBase.h
index ac693460..9a8bf73e 100644
--- a/src/lib/utility/math/VectorBase.h
+++ b/src/lib/utility/math/VectorBase.h
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ public:
 	template<class U>
 	bool isSame(const VectorBase<U, N>& other) const;
 
-	T& operator[](const unsigned int index);
+	T operator[](const unsigned int index);
 
 	template<class U>
 	void operator=(VectorBase<U, N>& other);
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ bool VectorBase<T, N>::isSame(const VectorBase<U, N>& other) const
 }
 
 template<class T, unsigned int N>
-T& VectorBase<T, N>::operator[](const unsigned int index)
+T VectorBase<T, N>::operator[](const unsigned int index)
 {
 	VECTOR_CHECK_INDEX(index);