Systems and methods are provided for causing display of a graphical user interface for designing at least one visualization, receiving data defining a first visualization control, receiving a least one data model defining at least one data source related to the first visualization control, and receiving at least one calculation module defining calculation details for the first visualization control. Further, the systems and methods are provided for generating an analytical instance for the at least one visualization comprising the first visualization control, the at least one data model, and the at least one calculation module, and uploading to a server system a specification associated with the analytical instance.