How to make the blue shapes in Keynote go away
The styles are not just on the object but also in the Shape Stye on the upper left of the style panel
Style your new defaults on the example shape
Right click on the blue panel in the style tab and chose Redefine style from selection
This popup will appear ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Shape Style and shape should look the same.
Delete the example shape but do not close the deck yet, it's getting better...
How to make them go away FOREVER!
Save the untitled deck with name Standard-new.key
to the desktop
Find Keynote in the Applications folder, right click and chose Show Package Contents
Navigate to Contents / Shared Support / Templates
We're looking for the folder White
in which there is a file called Standard.kth
Move (not copy) it out of the folder to the desktop by holding the CMD key while dragging. You will need to enter your password.
Rename it to Standard-old.kth
(requires password)
Now rename Standard-new.key
to Standard.kth
...
...and move it into the folder White
(requires password)
Open your new White Standard template...