Beginners typically load a prefab 3D model by dragging it from the project’s assets folder into the scene view or hierarchy panel (common in Unity/Unreal Engine).
This instantiates the prefab—a reusable template—preserving preset properties like materials or animations.
In Unity: Locate the prefab (blue cube icon) in “Assets” and drag it to “Hierarchy” or “Scene.” In Unreal: Use the Content Browser to drag into the Viewport.
Start with default engine prefabs (e.g., Unity’s basic shapes) first—this simplifies learning the workflow without custom model complexity.