Moments later, the free-form stories start flowing. He recalls, for instance, the exact moment he first thought about attending the Rhode Island School of Design. It was his cool Uncle Bob, who flew helicopters and worked on oil rigs who told him he had to go. Years later, after considering a career in architecture and even sculpture, he landed in the world of furniture design.

Rather than immediately pursuing a full-time career in design after school, Jonah moved to Portland, Oregon, finding a job at a junk store where he worked in exchange for goods. Soon after, he made his way to Washington, DC where he spent most of his twenties immersed in the world of music.

By age thirty, though, his mother suggested he consider a real profession—so after seven years, he returned to his roots. Today, he works out of his own studio, Atelier Takagi. He’s also the co-founder of Field, a brand centered around the concept of creating timeless, conscientiously made objects. We had the great fortune to chat with Jonah about indie bands, typical days and the winding journey that eventually led him full-circle to design.

This interview with Jonah is published in collaboration with OTHR, the forward-thinking design brand that utilizes the latest in 3D Printing technology to create unique objects. Follow along as we profile their international roster of designers here.