Creative Process

This question is a little difficult for me because i am new to the creative process, or rather to the expression of my creative process game. But for blog-sake, this is how i think i would like to describe how my mind works:
Usually, i have a concept in my head that i am struggling with; i concentrate on the subject or problem for a full five minutes... thinking about it or, more likely, how to solve it or express it, then i forget about it completely. I try to continue about my regular business as if i had not been thinking of anything at all. After maybe a few hours or a few days i'll just happen to see something that somehow, subconsciously, relates. this moment of recognition suddenly gives me a new hand hold to work with. This process doesn't seem to stop, but rather continues even after i thought i was finished.

When first trying to design objects, chairs, tables, or anything, i would start with an end goal. with this method i came up with Ikea-replicables. Now, i tried to begin with a concept or an aesthetic--by the way, i still have not found a suitable definition for this word--and work from there... hence the process described above.

p.s if anybody has any non-dictionary definitions or translations of "aesthetic" please let me know.