Developing high-performance, affordable, and durable batteries is one of the decisive technological tasks of our generation. Here, we review recent progress in understanding how to optimally arrange the various necessary phases to form the nanoscale structure of a battery electrode. The discussion begins with design principles for optimizing electrode kinetics based on the transport parameters and dimensionality of the phases involved. These principles are then used to review and classify various nanostructured architectures that have been synthesized. Connections are drawn to the necessary fabrication methods, and results from in operando experiments are highlighted that give insight into how electrodes evolve during battery cycling.