# Project Description

Slow Blooming: Stories of Female Workers

Paige Joseph

Summary

Final work

I'm Paige Joseph, a multidisciplinary designer with a background in interior design. From homes to immersive spaces, working to craft long-lasting connections to physical spaces and combining creativity and strategic thinking to design immersive environments that connect and inspire communities.

I'm Paige Joseph, a multidisciplinary designer with a background in interior design. From h...

College Central Saint Martins

Course MA Narrative Environments

Graduation year 2025

Slow Blooming explores the social and cultural significance of female workers at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. The project analyses historical records and botanical contributions, unearthing how gardens serve as both preservers and shapers of human experience. Through immersive installations in the Princess of Wales Conservatory, we bring to life the overlooked stories of these women while examining Kew’s architecture, microclimates, and cultural symbolism.

Slow Blooming amplifies women’s roles across science, botany, conservation and reinstates their stories in public memory. Unearthing intersections of equity, expression, and conservation, with Kew's living history.

Visitors will learn about women's stories and reflect on gardens as spaces of knowledge, identity, and ecological care. Each installation narrates a chapter of their journey through time. The series begins with the Victorian era, honouring Annie Gulvin, the first female gardener at Kew. Moving into the World War period, highlighting women's pioneering roles during times of crisis. Transitioning into the Post-War era, marking their growing presence and influence. Culminating in the Modern era and envisioning the next generation of female horticulturists.

A project co-directed with Prachi Pansare and Viv (Hánqí) Li

Collaborators:

Katherine Joseph, Editor

Himanshu Bablani, Technician

Joni Ayton-Kent, Voice artist

Claire Healy, Project Mentor

Final work

Slow Blooming - Exhibition Trailer

Trailer celebrating women workers at Kew Gardens through immersive stories, past and present

Plotting the Experience- exhibition plan

Exhibition floor plan showing themed installations, interactive zones with previews of the designs

Emerging Voices – Interactive Exhibit

By opening drawers and touching screens on an interactive wall the post-war era archives are activated

Flourishing Futures – Interactive Sculpture

By adding paper notes to the sculpture, visitors help continue sharing and growing the female workers' stories

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Slow Blooming explores the social and cultural significance of female workers at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. The project analyses historical records and botanical contributions, unearthing how gardens serve as both preservers and shapers of human experience. Thr...

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