Highly functional and monodisperse macromolecules with tailored architecture constitute the key to designing efficient and smart nanomaterials. Dendrimers offer real potential to achieve this goal, and one of the earlier challenges faced by this novel class of polymers has been addressed by the evolution of synthetic methodologies. This review provides an evaluation of the role played by chemistry in taking these macromolecules of academic relevance to practical industrial and biological applications, in a relatively short period. One can now construct dendrimers in a 'made-to-order' fashion, for numerous applications in a variety of disciplines.