Porphyrins are abundant in nature. They have been frequently employed as building blocks in the construction of nanoarchitectures and functional supramolecular systems. Recently, a series of novel porphyrin molecules including small molecules and polymers have been originally designed and synthesized with the aim of producing nanostructures with controllable-growth and materials with high-performance. Literature coverage is through 2004–2012. This review gives a full summary of related studies in our group. They have been used as building blocks in the construction of nanoarchitectures and functional supramolecular systems. Recently, a series of novel porphyrin molecules including small molecules and polymers have been originally designed and synthesized with the aim of producing nanostructures with controllable-growth and materials with high-performance. Literature coverage is through 2004-2012. This review gives a full summary of related studies in our group.