Imagine a group of designers attempting to create the ideal animal for travel in the desert while seated around a table. Every designer adds something new and has their own idea, but eventually the creature they're creating starts to look a little odd. It eventually has the hump of a camel, the wings of an eagle, and long legs like a giraffe. When Alec Issigonis likened such a project to building a camel, he was referring to the outcome of too many people attempting to add their own ideas without taking into account how useful or effective they would be.

British engineer Alec Issigonis made important contributions to the design of automobiles, including the Mini. He was born in Turkey in 1906 and later moved to England. Despite a number of obstacles in his career, he never stopped innovating. His opinion that too many people's opinions can occasionally result in an excessively complex or impractical outcome is reflected in the camel quote.

Issigonis was renowned for his capacity for original thought and the development of straightforward yet powerful solutions. He supported the idea of building cars with few parts, emphasizing functionality and efficiency over superfluous features. This idea is best exemplified by his Mini car, which was compact, reasonably priced, and able to maneuver into confined parking spots—a sophisticated solution that many hands would have confused.

The quote essentially emphasizes how group decision-making can occasionally result in ideas or products that are too complicated or compromised, lacking the precision and efficacy of a more targeted approach. When everyone insists on adding their favorite ingredient to a cupcake, it's like trying to make the ideal cupcake. Although it may sound good at first, the finished product doesn't quite meet any standards of perfection.