OVERVIEW

Destination Defender — Land Rover's annual celebration of everything Defender — was heading to Texas. But rather than simply showcase the event, MotorTrend pitched a bigger idea: make the journey the story.

MotorTrend partnered with world-class photographer, stuntman, and walking lifestyle brand Riley Harper and his brother Reid — both veteran content creators with credits including The Batman — to hand them the keys to a Defender 110 and send them across the country. The concept was simple: two authentic Defender enthusiasts, a golden retriever, a set of surfboards, and no shortage of detours.

From the surf break in Malibu through the Valley of Fire, off-road trails in New Mexico, a wave pool in Waco, and a wildlife sanctuary in Boyd, Texas, the Harpers documented every mile in their own inimitable style — a rolling photoshoot, video diary, and art piece that captured the Defender through the eyes of people who genuinely love it. The journey ended at the Iron Horse Ranch, the world-class venue hosting the Destination Defender event, where they traded the 110 for an even bigger Defender 130.

The success of Mission: Texas led to a second partnership the following year — a new adventure produced for the Destination Defender Malibu event. The content was filmed and delivered in full. Due to the timing of the Pacific Palisades fires, Land Rover made the decision not to air the campaign out of respect for the communities affected. Sometimes the right call isn't the easy one.

MY ROLE

• Concept & Media Strategy

• Proposal Development

• Budget Allocation & Management

• Cross-Team Collaboration with Production, Social, Sales, Creative Services

• Insights & Performance Optimization

CAMPAIGN DETAILS

• Branded Content

• Product Integration

• Multi-Platform Content Distribution

• Targeted Brand Media

• Co-Branded Promotion

• Content Amplification

• PR Outreach

BRANDED CONTENT

A cross-country road trip from the beaches of Malibu to the heart of Texas — captured by Riley and Reid Harper in their own inimitable style.

SOCIAL AMPLIFICATION

Mission: Texas was promoted across MotorTrend's YouTube and social platforms, and further amplified by leveraging sister property Discovery Channel, targeting authentic explorers and adventure seekers beyond the MotorTrend ecosystem.

GALLERY