When planning my vacation in San Diego in late October, I was having a hard time choosing between two Eventbrite activities the day I arrived: a Dia De Los Muertos sugar skull workshop or a Filipino festival described as “fusion of modern style, traditional culture, and captivating stories that showcase the beauty of our community.”

Then I saw the vendor/artist lineup for “Pixels & Petals: A Filipino-American Celebration of Style, Culture & Story” included Guam-born designer toy artist Zard Apuya — and I immediately got 2 tickets for my sister and I. 

I’ve been following Zard on Instagram since he came into my orbit via a news story written by one of my former freelance writers, Ron Coloma, who specialized in profiling young Guam diaspora who were making their mark in a variety of fields. Zard has built an international following among collectors since he started designing his first Munnies (vinyl figures that are customized by artists).

Zard is busy this weekend at the annual toy designer convention DesignerCon in Las Vegas, where’s he’s selling his customized foodie figures.

Check out the video below to see how Zard customized a Guam fiesta plate magnet - so cute!!

You can connect with Zard at his upcoming curated exhibit at Thumbprint Gallery in La Jolla in December - click here for details about the upcoming show.