diff --git a/packages/iios-messaging-ui/insignia-iios-messaging-ui-0.1.0.tgz b/packages/iios-messaging-ui/insignia-iios-messaging-ui-0.1.0.tgz
index c7622b0..c316427 100644
Binary files a/packages/iios-messaging-ui/insignia-iios-messaging-ui-0.1.0.tgz and b/packages/iios-messaging-ui/insignia-iios-messaging-ui-0.1.0.tgz differ
diff --git a/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/adapter.ts b/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/adapter.ts
index 1670e96..3ea31f5 100644
--- a/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/adapter.ts
+++ b/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/adapter.ts
@@ -61,6 +61,10 @@ export interface MessagingAdapter {
    *  Absent => the composer offers no autocomplete (you can still type @text). */
   listMembers?(threadId: string): Promise<Person[]>;
 
+  /** The people you can start a conversation with (org directory). Drives the "New message"
+   *  people picker. Absent => the UI hides DM/group creation (you can still open channels). */
+  directory?(): Promise<Person[]>;
+
   // ── Channels (optional capability) ──────────────────────────────
   // A channel is just a third membership beyond dm/group: a discoverable, joinable room.
   // Implement all four to enable the channels UI; absent => the UI hides channels entirely.
diff --git a/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/adapters/mock.ts b/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/adapters/mock.ts
index d3c8ad7..e75b370 100644
--- a/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/adapters/mock.ts
+++ b/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/adapters/mock.ts
@@ -159,7 +159,20 @@ export class MockAdapter implements MessagingAdapter {
     });
   }
 
+  async directory(): Promise<Person[]> {
+    return MOCK_PEOPLE.map((p) => ({ ...p }));
+  }
+
   async openThread(p: { participantIds: string[]; membership?: Membership; subject?: string }): Promise<{ threadId: string }> {
+    // A DM to someone you already have reuses the existing 1:1 thread (dedupe, like the live door).
+    if ((p.membership ?? (p.participantIds.length === 1 ? 'dm' : 'group')) === 'dm' && p.participantIds.length === 1) {
+      const target = p.participantIds[0];
+      for (const [id, t] of this.threads) {
+        if (t.membership === 'dm' && t.participants.length === 2 && t.participants.includes(ME) && t.participants.includes(target)) {
+          return { threadId: id };
+        }
+      }
+    }
     const membership = p.membership ?? (p.participantIds.length === 1 ? 'dm' : 'group');
     const threadId = `th_mock_${this.seq++}`;
     this.threads.set(threadId, {
diff --git a/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/components/messenger.tsx b/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/components/messenger.tsx
index 9a5b198..2b7e54e 100644
--- a/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/components/messenger.tsx
+++ b/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/components/messenger.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { useConversations } from '../hooks/use-conversations';
 import { useAdapter } from '../provider';
 import { ConversationList } from './conversation-list';
 import { ChannelBrowser } from './channel-browser';
+import { NewConversation } from './new-conversation';
 import { Thread } from './thread';
 import { ThreadPane } from './thread-pane';
 
@@ -15,28 +16,41 @@ export function Messenger() {
   const { conversations, loading, error, refetch } = useConversations();
   const adapter = useAdapter();
   const channelsSupported = typeof adapter.browseChannels === 'function';
+  const directorySupported = typeof adapter.directory === 'function';
 
   const [selected, setSelected] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [browsing, setBrowsing] = useState(false);
+  const [composing, setComposing] = useState(false); // "New message" people picker open
   const [activeRoot, setActiveRoot] = useState<string | null>(null); // open thread pane's root message
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (browsing) return;
+    if (browsing || composing) return;
     if (selected && conversations.some((c) => c.threadId === selected)) return;
     setSelected(conversations[0]?.threadId ?? null);
-  }, [conversations, selected, browsing]);
+  }, [conversations, selected, browsing, composing]);
 
-  // Switching conversations (or into browse) closes any open thread pane.
-  useEffect(() => setActiveRoot(null), [selected, browsing]);
+  // Switching conversations (or into browse/compose) closes any open thread pane.
+  useEffect(() => setActiveRoot(null), [selected, browsing, composing]);
 
   const channels = useMemo(() => conversations.filter((c) => c.membership === 'channel'), [conversations]);
   const dms = useMemo(() => conversations.filter((c) => c.membership !== 'channel'), [conversations]);
 
   function pick(threadId: string): void {
     setBrowsing(false);
+    setComposing(false);
     setSelected(threadId);
   }
 
+  function openBrowse(): void {
+    setComposing(false);
+    setBrowsing(true);
+  }
+
+  function openCompose(): void {
+    setBrowsing(false);
+    setComposing(true);
+  }
+
   return (
     <div className="miu-messenger">
       <aside className="miu-sidebar">
@@ -47,12 +61,12 @@ export function Messenger() {
           <div className="miu-section">
             <div className="miu-section-head">
               <span>Channels</span>
-              <button type="button" className="miu-section-add" title="Browse channels" onClick={() => setBrowsing(true)}>
+              <button type="button" className="miu-section-add" title="Browse channels" onClick={openBrowse}>
                 ＋
               </button>
             </div>
             {channels.length > 0 ? (
-              <ConversationList conversations={channels} selectedId={browsing ? null : selected} onSelect={pick} />
+              <ConversationList conversations={channels} selectedId={browsing || composing ? null : selected} onSelect={pick} />
             ) : (
               <div className="miu-empty miu-empty-sm">Browse to join a channel.</div>
             )}
@@ -60,12 +74,17 @@ export function Messenger() {
         ) : null}
 
         <div className="miu-section">
-          {channelsSupported ? (
+          {channelsSupported || directorySupported ? (
             <div className="miu-section-head">
               <span>Direct messages</span>
+              {directorySupported ? (
+                <button type="button" className="miu-section-add" title="New message" onClick={openCompose}>
+                  ＋
+                </button>
+              ) : null}
             </div>
           ) : null}
-          <ConversationList conversations={dms} selectedId={browsing ? null : selected} onSelect={pick} />
+          <ConversationList conversations={dms} selectedId={browsing || composing ? null : selected} onSelect={pick} />
         </div>
       </aside>
 
@@ -77,12 +96,19 @@ export function Messenger() {
               pick(threadId);
             }}
           />
+        ) : composing ? (
+          <NewConversation
+            onCreated={(threadId) => {
+              refetch();
+              pick(threadId);
+            }}
+          />
         ) : (
           <Thread threadId={selected} activeRootId={activeRoot} onOpenThread={setActiveRoot} />
         )}
       </section>
 
-      {!browsing && selected && activeRoot ? (
+      {!browsing && !composing && selected && activeRoot ? (
         <ThreadPane threadId={selected} rootId={activeRoot} onClose={() => setActiveRoot(null)} />
       ) : null}
     </div>
diff --git a/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/components/new-conversation.test.tsx b/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/components/new-conversation.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ab26ccd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/components/new-conversation.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import { render, screen, fireEvent, waitFor } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { MessagingProvider } from '../provider';
+import { MockAdapter } from '../adapters/mock';
+import { Messenger } from './messenger';
+
+function mount(adapter = new MockAdapter()) {
+  render(
+    <MessagingProvider adapter={adapter}>
+      <Messenger />
+    </MessagingProvider>,
+  );
+  return adapter;
+}
+
+describe('MockAdapter directory + openThread', () => {
+  it('directory lists people you can message', async () => {
+    const a = new MockAdapter();
+    const people = await a.directory();
+    expect(people.some((p) => p.name === 'Dan Whitaker')).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('one participant opens a dm; two+ open a group with a subject', async () => {
+    const a = new MockAdapter();
+    const dm = await a.openThread({ participantIds: ['pp_dan'], membership: 'dm' });
+    const list = await a.listConversations();
+    expect(list.find((c) => c.threadId === dm.threadId)?.membership).toBe('dm');
+
+    const group = await a.openThread({ participantIds: ['pp_dan', 'pp_priya'], membership: 'group', subject: 'Roof crew' });
+    const g = (await a.listConversations()).find((c) => c.threadId === group.threadId);
+    expect(g?.membership).toBe('group');
+    expect(g?.title).toBe('Roof crew');
+  });
+
+  it('opening a dm with the same person reuses the existing thread', async () => {
+    const a = new MockAdapter();
+    const first = await a.openThread({ participantIds: ['pp_priya'], membership: 'dm' });
+    const second = await a.openThread({ participantIds: ['pp_priya'], membership: 'dm' });
+    expect(second.threadId).toBe(first.threadId);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('<Messenger /> new conversation flow', () => {
+  it('opens the picker from the Direct messages +, and starting a chat leaves the picker', async () => {
+    mount();
+    // Open the "New message" picker.
+    fireEvent.click(await screen.findByTitle('New message'));
+    expect(await screen.findByText('New message')).toBeTruthy();
+
+    // Pick a person and start a DM.
+    fireEvent.click(await screen.findByText('Dan Whitaker'));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByText('Start chat'));
+
+    // The picker closes (we're back in a thread view — the picker heading is gone).
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.queryByText('Start chat')).toBeNull());
+  });
+
+  it('selecting two people switches the action to group create', async () => {
+    mount();
+    fireEvent.click(await screen.findByTitle('New message'));
+    fireEvent.click(await screen.findByText('Dan Whitaker'));
+    fireEvent.click(await screen.findByText('Priya Nair'));
+    expect(screen.getByText(/Create group \(2\)/)).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByLabelText('Group name')).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/components/new-conversation.tsx b/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/components/new-conversation.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2436c8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/components/new-conversation.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import { useAdapter } from '../provider';
+import type { Person } from '../types';
+
+/**
+ * Start a direct message or a group — Slack-style. Pick people from the org directory: one selected
+ * opens a DM (deduped by the adapter), two or more create a group with an optional name. Shown in
+ * the main pane like the channel browser.
+ */
+export function NewConversation({ onCreated }: { onCreated?: (threadId: string) => void }) {
+  const adapter = useAdapter();
+  const [people, setPeople] = useState<Person[]>([]);
+  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
+  const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [q, setQ] = useState('');
+  const [selected, setSelected] = useState<string[]>([]);
+  const [name, setName] = useState('');
+  const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!adapter.directory) {
+      setLoading(false);
+      return;
+    }
+    let alive = true;
+    adapter
+      .directory()
+      .then((p) => {
+        if (alive) {
+          setPeople(p);
+          setError(null);
+        }
+      })
+      .catch((e: unknown) => {
+        if (alive) setError(e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e));
+      })
+      .finally(() => {
+        if (alive) setLoading(false);
+      });
+    return () => {
+      alive = false;
+    };
+  }, [adapter]);
+
+  const filtered = people.filter((p) => p.name.toLowerCase().includes(q.trim().toLowerCase()));
+  const isGroup = selected.length > 1;
+  const canStart = selected.length >= 1 && !busy;
+
+  function toggle(id: string): void {
+    setSelected((s) => (s.includes(id) ? s.filter((x) => x !== id) : [...s, id]));
+  }
+
+  async function start(): Promise<void> {
+    if (!canStart) return;
+    setBusy(true);
+    setError(null);
+    try {
+      const res = await adapter.openThread({
+        participantIds: selected,
+        membership: isGroup ? 'group' : 'dm',
+        ...(isGroup && name.trim() ? { subject: name.trim() } : {}),
+      });
+      onCreated?.(res.threadId);
+    } catch (e) {
+      setError(e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e));
+    } finally {
+      setBusy(false);
+    }
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div className="miu-browser">
+      <div className="miu-browser-head">New message</div>
+      <div className="miu-newconv">
+        <input className="miu-input" value={q} onChange={(e) => setQ(e.target.value)} placeholder="Search people…" aria-label="Search people" />
+        {isGroup ? (
+          <input className="miu-input" value={name} onChange={(e) => setName(e.target.value)} placeholder="Group name (optional)" aria-label="Group name" />
+        ) : null}
+        {error ? <div className="miu-empty miu-error">{error}</div> : null}
+        <div className="miu-browser-list">
+          {loading && people.length === 0 ? <div className="miu-empty">Loading…</div> : null}
+          {!loading && filtered.length === 0 ? <div className="miu-empty">No people found.</div> : null}
+          {filtered.map((p) => (
+            <label key={p.id} className={`miu-person-row${selected.includes(p.id) ? ' is-active' : ''}`}>
+              <input type="checkbox" checked={selected.includes(p.id)} onChange={() => toggle(p.id)} />
+              <span className="miu-browser-name">{p.name}</span>
+              <span className="miu-pill">{p.kind}</span>
+            </label>
+          ))}
+        </div>
+        <button type="button" className="miu-send" onClick={() => void start()} disabled={!canStart}>
+          {busy ? 'Starting…' : isGroup ? `Create group (${selected.length})` : 'Start chat'}
+        </button>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/styles.css b/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/styles.css
index 0172ed0..43c8a81 100644
--- a/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/styles.css
+++ b/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/styles.css
@@ -500,6 +500,32 @@
   gap: 5px;
   cursor: pointer;
 }
+/* new conversation (DM / group) picker */
+.miu-newconv {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 10px;
+}
+.miu-person-row {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 10px;
+  padding: 8px 10px;
+  border: 1px solid var(--miu-border);
+  border-radius: 10px;
+  background: var(--miu-panel);
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+.miu-person-row:hover {
+  border-color: var(--miu-accent);
+}
+.miu-person-row.is-active {
+  border-color: var(--miu-accent);
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--miu-accent) 10%, var(--miu-panel));
+}
+.miu-person-row .miu-browser-name {
+  flex: 1 1 auto;
+}
 .miu-browser-list {
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;