Design front page website

Industry: Art and Design
Kind of design: Single web page
Num. of web pages: 1
Description of every page: I am a webdesigner myself, but I need some help with the front page of a project, as it requires quite some skills with illustrator, which I don't have.

Requirements:
- Show the title of the website (10 characters)
- Show 7 menu items
- Show the earth globe with a checkered pattern. The globe is centered on Europe/Africa

My costumer liked my first sketch: https://www.dropbox.com/s/mru4u03wln673fg/globe.jpg?dl=0
But it does not look good yet: I don't like the yellow/gold color, the text should be curved and the checkered pattern does not feel right.

Who can redesign this illustration? Should be delivered in an photoshop PSD or illustrator AI file. Do not require any html, css or mobile friendly version.
Ideas for the visual style: Maybe a colour for the waters would already do some of the job.
Extra notes: