Q&A
Sep 12, 2025
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Jessica Lyn, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based junior architectural design professional, shares her experience as part of our 2025 JacobsGo! cohort – living and working in Sydney, Australia.
Why did you decide to apply for the program?
I’ve always been passionate about travel, design and learning from different cultures. Growing up between China and the U.S. has shaped my ability to embrace multiple perspectives and collaborate effectively to create positive impacts. This background, combined with my passion for travel, architecture and cultural exchange, made me eager to contribute to and learn from other Jacobs teams around the world.
When I heard about JacobsGo!, I thought it was a great chance to grow as a designer and gain international experience to further my professional growth and enrich my understanding of global design practices.
What were you most excited about?
I was most excited to live and work in another country –instead of just visiting. Australia has such a rich mix of cultures and some amazing wildlife, so I couldn’t wait to explore both the cities and nature there.
What kind of work are you doing in your JacobsGo! role?
I joined the advanced facilities team and worked on a range of interesting projects –from marine science research sites to confidential government projects. Most of my work focused on early design phases, including master planning, concept renderings and creating graphics to help communicate design ideas.
What’s been the best part of your JacobsGo! experience so far.
The people and the culture have been the absolute highlight. From day one, the Sydney office made me feel so welcome. Over the past six months, I’ve participated in celebrations for Chinese New Year, Nowruz (Persian New Year), Holi, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee and more. I was thrilled to learn so much about cultures and histories that I did not know much about before.
From a design perspective, I’ve also gained insight into how Australian architecture responds to climate and context, as well as how Aboriginal consultation is part of the process for certain public projects. Australian architecture is rooted in contemporary western aesthetics combined with adaptations based on climatic concerns and unique cultural nature characteristics. The concept of designing in harmony with “Country” − as Aboriginal peoples refer to land, waters and sky − really inspired me.
