I also subscribe to a web designer newsletter. I totally disagree with articles that propose updating logos, icons, etc. just to make them more "modern".

Responsive design includes recognizing the format of the user's device, so if your designers want to improve the look and feel for users of smartphones - great idea! But I don't own a smartphone, and the new newsletter looks like it is optimized for smartphone users. I prefer a landscape layout with minimal scrolling, so as long as your designers can use responsive design concepts, and not rearrange the look for traditional PC users, it would be greatly appreciated.