Let me set the scene. It’s 10 PM and you’re in that sweet spot where you have just enough energy to catch up on a few episodes of F1: Drive to Survive on Netflix.

You scroll to Season 1, Episode 8, hit play, and buckle up for the adrenaline-fueled, tire-squealing chaos of Formula 1. Season 1 ends and you let Netflix serve up the next episode. But instead of Season 2, Episode 1, you get... Season 2, Episode 10. Huh???

Suddenly you’re watching an entire season in reverse—like reading a mystery novel from the last chapter backward. Plot twists unravel before you even know they’re twists. Characters cry about things you haven’t seen happen yet. And don't even get me started on Guenther. It’s less “Drive to Survive” and more “Drive to Spoil Everything.” Confused? So was I.

Naturally, I did what I tell my mom to do before 'escalating' tech support calls to me: I Googled it.

If your users need a tutorial, a Sherpa, or a seance to figure it out, you’ve failed. Design like everyone’s a newbie. Because if your tool can’t be navigated in five minutes by someone who’s never seen it before, that’s not a workflow—it’s a booby trap.

Design for Users, Not Managers

And oh, the rage that bubbled up when I found this official Netflix article explaining that some shows are reversed on purpose to “highlight the most recent season.” You know, so you can enjoy that without all the “context” and “narrative flow” that pesky chronological order provides: Exhibit A: Netflix's User Hostile Design

This is a masterclass in bad design. If 99% of your shows follow one pattern, but 1% suddenly break the mold without warning, congratulations—you’ve created a platform experience that gaslights your users. One where I have to double-check the episode number like it’s a legal contract and I’m trying to find the indemnity clause.

And now I can’t help but draw the obvious parallel: this is what happens when systems, workflows, or apps are designed for the product manager’s goals and not the user’s experience. In 2025, the best tech should come with as much training as a toaster. I shouldn't need a user manual, a PhD, or divine intervention to figure out which episode comes first. Same goes for your legal ops platform, your CRM system, or that new internal workflow you rolled out with an email that just said “See attached.”

If your users need a tutorial, a Sherpa, or a seance to figure it out, you’ve failed. Design like everyone’s a newbie. Because if your tool can’t be navigated in five minutes by someone who’s never seen it before, that’s not a workflow—it’s a booby trap.

User-Centered Design for the Win

Netflix reminded me of a timeless truth: user-centered design will always win. Whether you’re a legal tech founder or a seasoned lawyer, it’s more cutthroat than ever out there. Mid-sized firms are eating BigLaw's lunch is some sectors. A new AI-powered legal sidekick gets funded every Tuesday. And users? They’ve got options. If you’re not designing every experience—whether it’s software or legal services—with the user in mind, they’ll leave you the minute something better comes along. And they’ll be right to do it.

Cheryl Wilson Griffin has been designing workflows, building legal tech products, and untangling process spaghetti for more than 20 years. She knows how to balance user needs with business realities—and make it all feel seamless. If you’re wrestling with a messy workflow or trying to refine a product that just isn’t landing with users, drop her a line. She’s seen it all and probably already has a whiteboard sketch in mind.