Describing herself as obsessive, introverted, strong-willed and sarcastic ("And so would my friends and family, it’s no secret.”), graphic designer Tammy Irvine is valued by her colleagues and clients for her patience, exacting standards and kindness, despite this conflict with her self-perception.

A gifted painter of birds, insects and animals, if Ms. Irvine had her druthers, we’d each have to live someone else’s life for a week to teach us a little more empathy. She and her husband can “literally never” drive to a new destination the first time without becoming lost. However, she can reliably find her way to Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area, a wetlands refuge, since it hosts thousands of migratory birds each year; presumably, she navigates by their calls.

Claiming she doesn’t binge watch anything (“I don’t know what people are talking about.”), she also has little time for reading (“Oh, god, why does everyone think everyone else reads?”). Deploring the collected works of Weird Al, she loves Japanese food, especially sushi, and when not wearing shoes, keeps her socks only halfway on her feet.