System Default Chart Styles

We have introduced New System Default Chart Styles to provide a modernized look for all your data visualizations. These updated defaults are designed to improve readability and visual impact across your storyboards by optimizing hundreds of backend settings automatically.

Note for existing users: Depending on when your instance was created, your system may currently be using Legacy Styles. Enabling the new defaults allows all future visualizations to benefit from these optimized design standards without any manual configuration.

Permissions

There are two permission levels;

• Admin: Administrators with the Application Access Permission 'CanConfigureCompany' can enable or disable the (new) System Default Chart Styles.

• User: Users with the Application Access Permission 'CanCreateStoryboard' and the Storyboard Permission 'Can View & Edit' can ‘Set Default Styles’ within each individual chart’s design tab within a Storyboard. 

Enabling System Default Chart Styles

To manage this setting, navigate to Admin > Branding > Chart Styles and click Edit.

The Enable System Default Chart Styles toggle manages the transition between legacy design settings and our modernized visualization standards.

• For New Instances
  • All customer instances created after April 2026 use the new system defaults by default. The toggle is automatically set to ON, ensuring a consistent, modern look from day one.
• For Existing Instances
  • If your instance was configured prior to April 2026, the toggle is OFF to maintain your current storyboard styling.

Important Considerations for Existing Users

If you choose to enable this setting, all newly created visualizations will automatically adopt the updated styles. Please be aware of the following:

• Visual Mismatch: Existing Storyboard tiles are not retroactively updated. This means adding a new chart to an older storyboard may result in a visual mismatch between the legacy and modern styles.
• Updating Legacy Content: To align an older visualization with the new look, you must manually select Set Default Styles within the Design tab while in Storyboard Modify Mode.

Using ‘Set Default Styles’ in Storyboard Design

1. Open your Storyboard and click on the pencil icon at the top right to enter Edit Mode.
2. Click on the Tile Settings icon on the specific chart you wish to update.
3. Navigate to the Design tab. 

If your Admin has enabled the system-wide toggle, you will see the Set Default Styles [Apply] option.

4. Click Apply to adopt the new System Default Chart Styles.  

What is Retained?

When you click Apply, the system updates the visual styling but will not reset your core chart configurations (these can be found under Design tab > Metric Series). The following settings are excluded from the reset to ensure your data remains meaningful:

• Series Type: For Basic Charts, your selected series (e.g. Line or Area) is retained and will not revert to a Column chart.
• Horizontal Orientation: If Horizontal Bars is toggled on for a Basic Chart, the chart will remain in that horizontal layout.
• Stacking: If you have enabled Stacking for a Basic Chart, this setting is preserved.
• Filtering & Counts: The system excludes Filtering (including Top/Bottom counts) for all chart types. If you have configured a "Top 5" or "Top 3" filter, that logic remains active.
• Data Logic: Your underlying query configurations, such as specific metrics or dimensions, are not affected by the style update.

New Style Highlights

When you switch to the new system defaults, you may notice several improvements designed for better data storytelling:

• Enhanced Typography: Global font sizes for Data Labels and Axis Labels increase from 11pt to 14pt for significantly better legibility.
• Bold Visuals: some labels are now Bold by default, ensuring key figures stand out against chart backgrounds.
• Reduced Noise: We’ve refined grid lines and removed unnecessary axis ticks to create a cleaner, "data-first" layout.

• Optimized Contrast: Colors and borders have been tuned to meet higher accessibility standards, making charts easier to read at a glance.

  
   

5. Click Update on Storyboard to save changes.