This review focuses on modern scintillators, which are essential for ionizing radiation detection in various applications such as medical diagnostics, homeland security, and research. The conventional approach to improving scintillator characteristics involves enhancing material composition and doping. However, recent advancements in photonic and metamaterial engineering offer new ways to shape scintillator characteristics by introducing controlled inhomogeneity. The methods discussed include improving light out-coupling using photonic crystal (PhC) coating, modifying dielectric architecture to produce the Purcell effect, and engineering meta-materials based on energy sharing. These approaches help overcome limitations of traditional bulk scintillators, such as poor light extraction efficiency and timing performance. The review also highlights the potential of halide perovskite quantum dots as fast emitters and the use of the Purcell effect to increase and accelerate light emission. The outlook section discusses modern physical phenomena that could form the basis for next-generation scintillation-based detectors and suggests cost-effective fabrication techniques. The review emphasizes the importance of light out-coupling, time resolution, and the integration of smart materials to enhance scintillation performance.This review focuses on modern scintillators, which are essential for ionizing radiation detection in various applications such as medical diagnostics, homeland security, and research. The conventional approach to improving scintillator characteristics involves enhancing material composition and doping. However, recent advancements in photonic and metamaterial engineering offer new ways to shape scintillator characteristics by introducing controlled inhomogeneity. The methods discussed include improving light out-coupling using photonic crystal (PhC) coating, modifying dielectric architecture to produce the Purcell effect, and engineering meta-materials based on energy sharing. These approaches help overcome limitations of traditional bulk scintillators, such as poor light extraction efficiency and timing performance. The review also highlights the potential of halide perovskite quantum dots as fast emitters and the use of the Purcell effect to increase and accelerate light emission. The outlook section discusses modern physical phenomena that could form the basis for next-generation scintillation-based detectors and suggests cost-effective fabrication techniques. The review emphasizes the importance of light out-coupling, time resolution, and the integration of smart materials to enhance scintillation performance.