Richard Capp
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“Couple days ago a woman came in with all these sample tiles, and she laid them out on the table and said ‘I’m on my way to the tile shop now, just need to make sure I have the right wallpaper.”
Richard Capp — CEO of designer wallpaper company, Milton & King — says that’s exactly what he hoped would happen when he opened the store in the Design District, in June 2022.
He says interior design is always in style – and this isn’t your grandmother’s wallpaper. Capp spoke in the showroom of the store — the sound of an industrial printer humming along in the background. Capp and his brother, Bryce, started the company online in Australia, in 2009 and it took a few years for technology to catch up with their idea. They wanted to print on demand, which requires the right paper and ink combination for a quality product that: doesn’t bleed or smudge and is easy to both hang and remove.
But by 2015 not only was it a success — it was time to expand. And while they have customers on every continent, the United States had grown to be one of their biggest markets, so it made sense to add a physical store here. Texas was attractive because of the business-friendly policies, and it seemed like everyone was moving to Austin, so that’s where he and his family first headed. But one road trip to Dallas-Fort Worth — and he realized that their storefront – their first storefront – needed to be in Dallas’ Design District.
What convinced him? “We wanted a vibrant neighborhood that embraced creatives and where our neighbors would also be in the design space.” With art galleries, interior design showrooms, and fine dining, the Design District is an eclectic neighborhood that borders Trammell Crow Park, and sits next to 35E, opposite the Harwood District.
DFW’s geographic advantage was also a factor since so much business comes from the United States; when customers place an order, samples go from store to door in an average of three-days.
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“I’m passionate about continuing to build our business in Dallas and throughout Texas. Every day has been a new opportunity to meet people inside and outside of the design industry. We’ve developed a great staff here in Dallas that seamlessly blended into the Milton & King family.”
Capp, his wife, and their children chose Lakewood for their new home.
“While it is close to everything that Dallas has to offer, the neighborhood feels a bit slower-paced, and that is the way that we like it. Lakewood also offers a lot of green space and room to breathe – which reminds us of back home in Australia.”
Hudson House, Olivella’s, and Jarams Donuts became fast favorites. As did the Dallas Museum of Art, and for the kids, the Dallas World Aquarium and Klyde Warren Park.
To be clear, Milton & King is not your grandparents’ wallpaper. The company has found success working with artists to create digital designs, and on the wall, the look is reminiscent of a mural. And Capp would love to create a Dallas-specific design.
Two printers run from six o’clock in the morning until seven o’clock at night most days, producing 120 rolls of designer wallpaper per-day, per-machine. And demand is so great that a third printer is on the way. Customers can browse through roughly 17-hundred samples on the website — https://www.miltonandking.com/, or, visit the showroom at 900 Dragon Street. From the people he’s met so far, he describes Dallas as friendly, relaxed, and sophisticated.
Rose Johnson
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“When you look at traditional education now, it kind of ends at the ‘learn,’ right? You’re in school and you learn but where do you get that ‘experience‘, and where do you ‘do’?”
Rose Johnson, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Esposure, has sought the answer to that question more than once. Now she’s in a position to help answer it and put young women on the path to a career in STEM.
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Growing up in Dallas, Johnson said she remembers always asking her mother how things worked. It was Johnson’s natural curiosity that led her to the University of Missouri, and then into a career in technology where she worked in logistics as an analyst and eventually the energy industry as a management consultant. Johnson’s career took her to a few different states, but she always knew she would return to Dallas someday.
Johnson’s son, Danny Martin, taught her about gaming, and together, they founded Esposure in 2021 in Duncanville. They recognized that it could both give Southern Dallas County another entertainment venue and provide transformational experiences for young people. The esports industry is expected to swell to $1.87 billion by 2025, from just over $1.38 billion in 2022, according to Statista, and Esposure wants to play a part in helping young people learn how they can get a piece of that.
For example, on a tour of the facility, students from Frisco ISD learned about the number of careers that exist within the esports industry. The production of one event represents about 50 career tracks including graphic design, videography, and marketing. Being on a team and holding a controller is just the part people see.
But Johnson said esports is much more than an extra-curricular activity, and Esposure is more than just showing students what’s possible. With its STEM accreditation, students can create full-service tournaments, design a microsite, and make social media posts—all while earning school credit. Johnson said Martin is working with the Texas Education Association to create an esports curriculum, but it will likely take a few years before it is in schools in the Dallas Region. Johnson noted that when Esposure visits schools and ask the students if they game, about 90% say yes, and it’s equal between genders. Unfortunately, at the professional level, 90% of the gamers are men.
That’s why, as CTO, Johnson enjoys being a role model and mentor for young women.
“I think women are actually very good at science and math, but there’s a translation there where they’re not really translating it properly,” Johnson said. “So having a mentor that helps you realize your power in technology is very important.”
Johnson still recalls advice from one of her mentors. While holding a pager, her mentor said, “Don’t ever focus on this, focus on what makes this beep.” Now she’s helping students figure out the modern equivalent of making a pager beep – and they’re gaining real skills they can add to their digital resume.
Outside of work, Johnson likes to walk the Southern Dallas County trails, frequenting Cedar Hill State Park. She also looks forward to the completion of the Southern Gateway Park project, which will connect both sides of Dallas. Connectedness is something she values about the Dallas Region, and one of the reasons she keeps saying “yes.” Geographically, it’s very spread out, but if you have an idea, if you need help creating something, this is the place you want to be. She said people here have “true grit and heart,” making the Dallas Region inclusive, accessible, genuine, and helpful.