Methods are provided in which a collaboration server connects at least two participants via respective user devices to a collaboration session. The collaboration server further distributes, to the respective user devices, media stream data and one or more customized graphical items that are distinguishably displayed in the collaboration session. The one or more customized graphical items are displayed in a foreground or a background associated with a collaboration space of first participant of the at least two participants. The collaboration server further detects a selection, by one of the respective user devices, of a graphical item from the one or more customized graphical items displayed in the collaboration space and performs at least one action associated with the graphical item during the collaboration session based on detecting the selection of the graphical item.