Global Contest Submission Heatmap

I need a freelancer to design a map graphic showing contest submissions per country. I need a polished map that turns those numbers into an easy-to-read heatmap. The goal is purely informational—no branding extras—so clarity and accurate visual weighting matter more than decorative flourishes.

Please work from a world projection that keeps relative country sizes sensible, apply a colour scale that intuitively moves from low to high volume, and include a compact legend. A clean, modern palette (think muted blues through warm reds) will fit best with the rest of our material, but I’m open to your professional eye.

Deliverables I’ll need:
• A high-resolution raster version (PNG, 4000 px wide) for web use
• A fully editable vector file (AI or layered SVG) so we can update numbers later
• The colour scale values and any fonts you use

If you prefer Adobe Illustrator, Figma, or another vector tool, that’s fine—just supply the source file. No interactive code is required; this is a static graphic.