<p>One of the most yet unresolved theoretical problems in creative thinking concerns the relation between creativity and aesthetics. Standard models of aesthetics rarely offer a functional naturalistic explanation that integrates these two notions within a single framework. As a result, aesthetics and creativity remain paradoxically intertwined yet conceptually disconnected, developing as research fields with limited cross-theoretical engagement. The paper approaches the problem from a non-art-related perspective, grounded in a fundamentally different metaphysical framework. In explaining how explorations towards novel and appropriate ideas aim at significant changes in knowledge constructions, the relation between aesthetics and creativity must necessarily be grounded in learning and development. However, we argue that standard models of the modular aesthetic mind face critical limitations in incorporating learning and development, thereby, failing to account for genuine knowledge transformation in creative explorations. As an alternative, we propose an Interactivist-Constructivist model of Aesthetics, which overcomes these limitations. Our claim is that a value-rich aesthetic sense of future interaction states is not only functionally integrated with learning and development but also actively shapes ideation paths within creative explorations. This aesthetic sense is both enabled by and facilitates further learning and development. Rather than existing as an isolated aspect of creative thinking, aesthetics are intrinsically embedded in the knowing ontology serving functional role: to reduce uncertainty in creative explorations, thus indicating and opening the door to new creative ideas and opportunities of further interaction.</p>