Villafranca was born January 25, 1969, in Monterey, California[1] and spent his early years in Venezuela, Mexico and Del Rio, Texas.
in History from Southwest Texas State University in 1994 and apprenticed at Michael Hall's Studio Foundry during his final year of undergraduate studies.
In 2013, Villafranca designed and produced the Hugo Awards for the 71st World Science Fiction Convention.
The trophy is that of a leafless tree in front of a full moon and replaced the bust of H. P. Lovecraft whose rampant racism made many uncomfortable.
World Fantasy decided a new award would honor the winners and Villafranca's design was chosen as the new trophy.