Freelancer. I want to make a portfolio website (though whether it is necessary?).
Yes, it is. The presence of its own and most importantly quality of a site is a good thing.
Did an easy single-page site, but I can do something cool with the animations, 3d models and everything.
You need to look at what kind of CA you are focused and based on what you have it, you can choose the level of animations, crazy stuff, and WOW — effects. But do not forget about the burden posed by all these WOW!!! effects. I'm often faced with the fact that many people on their iron does not appear GSAP/Shaders/WebGL or was a terrible load on the device.
That is, for example, instead of some kind of beautiful animations in 3D would just be white space. Or the device may hang for a certain time while watching some of this miracle and it is bad for usability.
It's not too cool, if I may say so. This is not a problem with IE or old versions of other browsers, which could be solved in a couple of clicks. No. Here it is much more difficult. If iron man is weak, he will not see all the beauty that you can cram on the site.
So before you create a great WOW — think, and whether it will be displayed in people with weak phones/computers. Not be amiss to spend a little test, if you really just like the cool animations. IMHO.
But I'm afraid that while a visitor is in my head all this analyses, it will spend a lot of time to reach the required unit.
The visitor will look at the design of the website, its functionality, the design, the amount of information and at this point will begin the process of admiration or rejection(depends on how good or bad). And only when it reaches the desired block(if he comes), he will decide what to do next. To discuss your order or leave your website and forget the address. Okay.
To focus on the simplicity or show your skill with your website?
Based on the foregoing me, I can say only one thing: show your skill, but be careful not get too carried away. Your website is your creation and you have my personal creation to show what you can do. To show a neat approach, capabilities, branding, and so on.
What about the design: try to stick to not too saturated images. Sometimes simply black, much better rainbow of gradients, and black with white and a couple of other colors, generally pretty good. But this is all a matter of taste, personal choice, experience, time, TSA and other...
You can even site with pink unicorns and donuts to make, and it will be fun and nice to visitors, but again the emphasis on Central Asia. Depends on what sites you do and for what audience. IMHO.