Traditional liquid crystal alignment techniques influence mesogen alignment at the substrate alone, and rely on interactions between molecules to extend that alignment throughout a device's thickness. An alternative approach is the use of a nanostructured host that provides a large surface contact area with a guest liquid crystalline material and can extend for micrometres beyond the substrate. This permits a greater degree of control over the mesogens and allows alignment control throughout the thickness of the nanostructured host. We present the realization and experimental results using hosts fabricated through a specialized thin film process known as glancing angle deposition.