An introduction into the growing field of molecular imprinting is given, and some principle questions for the design of novel artificial molecular recognition polymers (MIPs) are raised. The limitations of the classical non-covalent imprinting approach are discussed in a brief form. Some novel strategies for the molecular imprinting of macromolecules, especially proteins, are reviewed, as well as new concepts for the integration with transducers and sensors. Two case studies from our own laboratory highlight the question of improving the performance of MIPs by the use of complementary functional monomers and demonstrate a new electrochemical approach to the imprinting of peptides and proteins.