The GEL-NYC 2055 sneaker sources design influences from various archived running shoes that released in the early 2000s.​ Its upper construction references the GT-2050 and GT-2060 running shoes. Key details from these silhouettes are configured onto the shoe's ASICS Stripes, heel counter, and eyelet structure.​ The tooling contrasts the upper's retro influences by using the GEL-CUMULUS 16 shoe's tooling system.